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REMARKS 




ENGINEERS' SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS. 



HELLER & BRIGHT 



OOITTEHTS 




POINTS OF A GOOD TKANSIT. 

Defective surveys.— City of Burling- 
ton, N. J., in point.— Law compelling 
instruments to be tested.— Magnetic 
needle, its degree of sensitiveness.— 
Compound centres, how to test.— 
Should always have double verniers, 
and why.— Dead centre turning lathe. 
—"Back lash" to tangent screw.— 
Telescope balanced in axis 3 

COMMON DEFECTS OF ORDINARY 
TRANSITS. 

Defective graduation. —Errors of 
graduation.— Personal equation.— Per- 
sonal aberration. — Error between Bes- 
sel and Strove.— Mete] should not be 
yellow brass, and why. — Defects of or- 
dinary plummets 3 

MINING TRANSITS. 

Side telescope to axis. — Improved 
table for lamp.— New lamp for hat.— 
Reflector for graduations 7 

TUNNEL TRANSITS. 

How made.— Error of alignment 7 

LEVELLING INSTRUMENT. 

Points of a good level.— Marks for 
vertical line.— New mode of binding 
telescope.— Defective form of level.— 
Diversity of opinion as to close lev- 
elling.— Test levels.— Rod errors, how 
corrected.— Distance errors, how cor- 
rected 8 

TELESCOPES. 

How to compare.— Tests for power, 
definition aud light.— Best time for 
sigh ting.— Ho w to keep telescope good . 10 

SURVEYOR'S COMPASS. 

Remarks on magnetism,— How to 
keep needle sensitive.— Causes of at- 
traction. New causes of attraction.— 
Nickel watch movements.— "Wire hat- 
bands.— Impure brass.— Electricity in 



SOLAR COMPASS. 

How to test,— Methods of applying 
telescope to 14 

NEW STRAIGHT LINE MEASURE. 

Defects of ordinary tapes and chains. 15 

STADIA MEASUREMENTS. 

Different methods.— Why good re- 



PAPER READ BEFORE THE AMERI- 
CAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY ON 
TRANSITS 19 

REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF CIVIL 
ENGINEERS OF THE FRANKLIN 
INSTITUTE TO EXAMINE A NEW 
TRANSIT 22 

ACCOUNT OF A NEW TELESCOPE.... 25 

TEST OF NEW TELESCOPE AS COM- 
PARED WITH AN ORDINARY ONE. 26 

STROLL THROUGH AN "ENGINEER'S 
INSTRUMENT" MANUFACTORY.... 28 

MODERN PRACTICE OF FIELD WORK 
IN RAILROAD SURVEYS 30 

PAPER READ BY PROF. R. W. RAY- 
MOND BEFORE THE AMERICAN 
ASSOCIATION OF MINING ENGI- 
NEERS ON A NEW MINING TRAN- 
SIT , 32 

PAPER BY ECKLEY B. COXE, ESQ., 
BEFORE THE SAME, ON THE USE 
OF THE PLUMMET LAMP IN MINE 
SURVEYING 33 




PHILADELPHIA : 

PUBLISHED BY HELLER & BRIGHTLY. 
1874. 




1 v^ 




b 




EEMAEKS 



ENGINEERS' SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS. 



J 



HELLER & BEIGHTLY. 



COITTE1TTS, 



PAGE 

POINTS OF A GOOD TRANSIT. 

Defective surveys.— City of Burling- 
ton, N. J., in point.— Law compelling 
instruments to be tested.— Magnetic 
needle, its degree of sensitiveness.— 
Compound centres, how to test.— 
Should always have double verniers, 
and why.— Dead centre turning lathe. 
—"Back lash" to tangent screw.— 
Telescope balanced in axis 3 

COMMON DEFECTS OF ORDINARY 
TRANSITS. 

Defective graduation. —Errors of 
graduation.— Personal equation. —Per- 
sonal aberration.— Error between Bes- 
sel and Struve.— Metal should not be 
yellow brass, and why.— Defects of or- 
dinary plummets 3 

MINING TRANSITS. 

Side telescope to axis. — Improved 
table for lamp.— New lamp for hat.— 
Reflector for graduations 7 

TUNNEL TRANSITS. 

How made.— Error of alignment 7 

LEVELLING INSTRUMENT. 

Points of a good level.— Marks for 
vertical line. — New mode of binding 
telescope.— Defective form of level.— 
Diversity of opinion as to close lev- 
elling.— Test levels.— Rod errors, how 
corrected.— Distance errors, how cor- 
rected 8 

TELESCOPES. 

How to compare.— Tests for power, 
definition' an-d light.— Best time for 
sighting.— How to keep telescope good. 10 

SURVEYOR'S COMPASS. 

Remarks on magnetism.— How to 
keep needle sensitive.— Causes of at- 
traction. New causes of attraction. — 
Nickel watch movements.— Wire hat- 
bands.— Impure brass.— Electricity in 
compass glass 11 



SOLAR COMPASS. 

How to test.— Methods of applying 
telescope to 14 

NEW STRAIGHT LINE MEASURE. 

Defects of ordinary tapes and chains. 15 

STADIA MEASUREMENTS. 

Different methods.— Why good re- 
sults not been had.— Starting-point 
for stadia 16 

PAPER READ BEFORE THE AMERI- 
CAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY ON 
TRANSITS 19 

REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF CIVIL 
ENGINEERS OF THE FRANKLIN 
INSTITUTE TO EXAMINE A NEW 
TRANSIT 22 



ACCOUNT OF A NEW TELESCOPE. 



25 



TEST OF NEW TELESCOPE AS COM- 
PARED WITH AN ORDINARY ONE. 26 

STROLL THROUGH AN "ENGINEER'S 
INSTRUMENT" MANUFACTORY.... 28 

MODERN PRACTICE OF FIELD WORK 
IN RAILROAD SURVEYS 30 

PAPER READ BY PROF. R. W. RAY- 
MOND BEFORE THE AMERICAN 
ASSOCIATION OF MINING ENGI- 
NEERS ON A NEW MINING TRAN- 
SIT 32 

PAPER BY ECKLEY B. COXE, ESQ., 
BEFORE THE SAME, ON THE USE 
OF THE PLUMMET LAMP IN MINE 
SURVEYING 33 



PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED BY HELLER & BRIGHTLY. 

1874. 



OFFICE OF HELLER & BRIGHTLY, 
Philadelphia, February, 187L 



TO THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION. 



When we some three years since first introduced our " Improved Transit " to the 
Engineering profession, we had no idea that it would meet with so immediate 
favor as it has, especially as we made no particular efforts to spread the knowledge 
of the improvement. The first public knowledge was conveyed through the 
paper read before the American Philosophical Society by J. Peter Lesley, 
Esq., Dean of the Faculty of the new Department of Science of the University of 
Pennsylvania, as well as Professor of Mining and Geology in that institution ; 
than whom no person is better qualified by extensive practice in the field to judge 
of the quality of Surveying instruments. On the publication of this paper, we 
resolved to submit our instruments to a committee of experts to be appointed by 
the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia. This committee was composed of the 
following gentlemen : Jno. C. Trautwixe, Civ. Eng., author of the " Engineers' 
Pocket-Book," works on " Excavations," " Curves," etc., and whose knowledge 
regarding all matters connected with Civil Engineering is too well known to need 
recapitulation, was Chairman ; Saml. L. Smedley, Chief Engineer and Sur- 
veyor of the city of Philadelphia; Chas. S. Ceose, Esq., of the Philadelphia 
Survey Department; L. M. Hatjpt, Civ. Eng., Prof, of Civil Engineering in the 
University of Pennsylvania; and Ellwood Morris, Civ. Eng., author of 
"Earthworks," formerly Chief Engineer of the Ohio and Chesapeake Canal, and 
of other works, being the remaining members. After a thorough examination 
in whole and in detail of the instruments and the principles of their construc- 
tion, they unanimously made the report that will be found in the body of the 
pamphlet. In proof of the sincerity of the opinions of each individual member 
of the committee, we may state that since the report was submitted, the Survey 
Department of the city have procured from us all the new instruments required 
since that date, amounting to eight in all ; also that the University of Pennsyl- 
vania have purchased from us all the Engineering instruments required by that 
institution ; and, moreover, we have sold instruments either to every member of 
the committee directly, or to other Engineers at their recommendation. 

As we have in the last three years made two improvements in Telescopes, a 
word of explanation may be necessary to distinguish them apart. In 1870 we 
improved the formula in general use for Telescopes in such a manner as to prac- 
tically annihilate the chromatic and spherical aberration. This Telescope is the 
one referred to in the Philosophical Society paper, and in the report of the 
Franklin Institute Committee of Civil Engineers; and this Telescope is on all of 
our instruments from No. 4100 to No. 4592 inclusive. (All of our instruments 
are numbered on the face.) 

Early in 1873 we commenced experimenting in order to increase the power of 
our Telescopes, and we only brought our experiments to a perfectly satisfactory 
conclusion in the latter part of December of the same year. We have made but 
comparatively few instruments with this new Telescope attached (from No. 4o93 
to 4645 inclusive). This latter Telescope is, however, the one which we are now 
placing on all of our new instruments; and it was with a Telescope of this kind 
on a Transit that we made for the City of Philadelphia Survey Department, that 
the comparisons as to power, range and definition, as compared with an ordinary 
Transit Telescope, were made by Mr. Stauffer. 

The articles extracted from the editorial columns of the United S/ates Railroad 
and Mining Register will give the full details concerning the " Improved Tele- 
scope;" and the " Franklin Institute Eeport" first sees the light-in these pages. 
Having within a short time doubled our force of skilled workmen and tools, and 
having also called in the aid of steam, Ave hope in the future to supply any 
reasonable demand on us for instruments, and to avoid the vexatious delays that 
we heretofore frequently have had to subject our friends to. Our present price 
list, which supersedes all others, will be found at the end of the book. 

2 <C* > 



REMAKES 

ON 

ENGINEERS' SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS. 



We are often applied to by Engineers respecting the methods to be em- 
ployed in testing the accuracy of the various parts of Engineers' Instruments, 
the* errors to which they are liable, and the means of correction. (These queries 
are, however, mostly from those just commencing practice, their elder brethren, 
as a general rule, knowing how to make an instrument "prove itself.") 

In the following articles we have endeavored to comply with these requests. 
It would surprise those who think "one instrument as good as another" to be 
informed that in perhaps no other branch of mechanism are palpable " errors 
of omission and commission" more common than in ours — surveys extending 
over months of time have been rendered almost useless from " instrumental 
error," and a considerable portion of the business of our courts of law is caused 
directly and indirectly by imperfections of instruments. 

The recent case of the City of Burlington, N. J., is in point.* Here the 
courts were so frequently annoyed by land suits from defective surveys that the 
Legislature of the State was compelled to pass a law that an- entire re-survey, by 
a competent person and first-class instruments, should be made. A law re- 
quiring every instrument to be tested and proved by a competent person (not 
necessarily a manufacturer) would have a tendency to weed out instruments 
which, like " Peter Pindar's" razors, are made, " not to use, but to sell." 

We will not stop to speak of the ordinary adjustments of instruments, as they 
are found in every elementary work pertaining to Civil Engineering — if a know- 
ledge of these, however, be required, "Trautwine's Engineers' Pocket-book" will 
give them in detail. We will mention in their order, the Transit, Level, Tele- 
scope, Compass, Solar Compass and Plane Table. 

THE TRANSIT. 

A first-class Transit Instrument should possess the following qualities : In 
the first place, all its graduations should be on silver plate [instead of on the 
plain brass and silver washed, as is usual) — all astronomical instruments are done 
in this way, as a smoother, truer graduation can be had. The divisions of the 
horizontal limb should be truly graduated and centred [i. e., the gradua- 
tions should be precisely the same distance from each other — the centre of the 
graduations and the centre of revolution should be precisely at the same point). 
The instrument should always have two opposite verniers to the horizontal 
limb (and these verniers should be equally spaced). In astronomical instru- 
ments more than two verniers are absolutely necessary, but we are now speaking 
of Engineering Instruments. 

The interior of the glass level tubes should be ground, in order that their 
bubbles may act correctly. The needle should be sensitive enough to co- 
incide with the verniers of the horizontal limb without disagreeing more than 
3 / . The centre upon which the vernier plate turns, and the common centre 
upon which the entire instrument revolves (we are now having one of the best 
class of Transits under consideration — i. e., one with long compound centres), should 
be concentric with each other, and the levels, if adjusted to one centre, should 
reverse upon either one at will. Both of the centres should be always covered, and 
not detachable from the main plates. 

The tripod and tripod head should be firm and steady, the centre of gravity 
of the instrument brought as near to the tripod head as possible, and the in- 
strument not top-heavy. The tripod should be furnished with an adjustable 
tripod head for precise centring of the instrument (the adjustable tripod head 

*See H. S. Haines' letter, accompanying Franklin Institute Report of Civil Engineers. 

3 



4 THE TRANSIT. 

is intended for precisely centring the instrument, after approximately setting 
by the legs in the following manner). First approximate by the legs to within an 
inch or less, loosen two of the levelling screws, then move the entire instrument 
until the plummet is precisely centred. While placing the instrument level by 
means of the levelling screws it is again clamped. 

The levelling screws should have deep threads, good milled finger-heads, and 
be well fitted to their nuts. — The openings and windows in the upper plate for 
reading the verniers of the horizontal limb should be as wide as possible, to 
admit light freely upon the verniers and plate, thus facilitating an accurate 
reading (this single point as a general rule being overlooked). The vertical arc 
or circle (if one is used) should have a diameter of not less than -il inches, to 
allow single minutes (at least) to be read easily. 

The plates and centres should move smoothly in all temperatures. 

The spindle of a turning lathe can never be made precisely round, and of 
course any article turned in a lathe can only be as true as its spindle. Any 
work that is required to be precisely round and true, such as the journals of the 
axes of an Astronomical Transit or its centres, is turned on a lathe in which the 
spindle remains stationary, and the work revolves between centres. — In order to 
insure the actual truth of the centres of allot our instruments, they are made by 
this method (termed turning between "dead centres"), although it has hereto- 
fore only been used for astronomers' instruments. 

The mechanical construction should be so arranged that all the parts shall 
as far as possible brace each other. The tangent screws should move smoothly 
and have no " back lash." 

The Telescope should be balanced in its axis. Its length from 10 to 12 inches. 
to allow of its reversing in its standards, both at eye and object ends ; it should 
have power enough to set an ordinary flagpole at luOU feet; its object glass 
slide siiould move in and out in a perfectly straight line, in order that the line of 
collimation, when adjusted for a long distance, shall be correct for a short one. 
(This precaution does not always receive the attention it should, and young En- 
gineers are frequently at a loss to account for discrepancies in their observations 
which are due to this cause.) 

The slide of the object glass should be long enough to be able to focus an 
object five feet from the instrument. The adjustments of the telescope (and 
in fact of the whole instrument) should be as few as possible, every part admit- 
ting of it to be made as permanent as practicable. One end of the axis of the 
telescope should be adjustable, so as to make the "line of collimation " revolve 
truly in a vertical plane ; and this adjustment should be provided with a jam 
nut, in order to fasten it securely after adjustment. The best method of testing 
this adjustment is by a star as near vertical as the telescope will allow of; if, 
after careful levelling of the instrument, the telescope cuts this star and its re- 
flection in a basin of quicksilver, it is equivalent to cutting the two ends of a 
plumb line at least 50 million million miles long. 

Having mentioned the traits a good transit should possess, we will pass in 
review some of the more common defects ; and in this connection will.take the 
opportunity of remarking that all the defects we will enumerate are matters of 
almost every-day observation in establishments that have a large amount of out- 
side repairing to do. 

As the Tefescope has been termed "the brain ; and the graduations the soul 
of a Transit," we will first take imperfect graduation, as this is the most serious 
and damaging imperfection, and one of the most difficult to avoid in practice, as 
any of the following causes may defeat it during the process of construction. 
Namely — an imperfect graduating engine, defective centring, unstable cutting 
arrangement; and even if all these be correct, in the very act of graduating the 
plate may shift on the engine, from change of temperature ; or the clamps, metal 
of the plate, or engine, may expand unequally from the same cause ; in fact, the 
manufacturer, with all the care he may take, is not sure himself whether the 
process of graduating a plate has proceeded correctly until the graduations them- 
selves are proved by means of its own opposite verniers, and until "testing re- 
Versions," for the purpose of proving the centre and graduations, have been 



IMPKOVED COMPLETE 
COMBINED TRANSIT AND LEVELLING INSTRUMENT,' 

For Civil Engineers and Surveyors. 




HELLEE & BRIGHTLT, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 



THE TRANSIT. 5 

taken on all parts of the circle ; the " fertile principle of reversion" and its peculiar 
merit of " doubling the real error, thus making it twice as easy to perceive" here, 
as in every other adjustment of the instrument, making each part prove itself. 

It was mentioned among the points of a good transit that the horizontal limb 
should have two opposite verniers. Without these even the manufacturer himself 
cannot (as explained above) be sure of the accuracy of his graduations; how- 
ever, by taking a mean of two opposite readings, reversing and repeating, an 
accurate angle can be taken even though there be an imperfect graduation. 

One very rare cause of error of observation may be mentioned in speaking 
of the reading and testing of graduations. We refer to those persons who, prob- 
ably from some defect of the humors of the eye (not from advancing age), are 
unable to read a vernier correctly. Extreme cases of this "personal aberra- 
tion " are fortunately rarely met with ; the writer in fifteen years' intercourse with 
hundreds of Engineers has only met with two ; in both of these, if a reading 
was taken and noted by them, the vernier might be shifted two minutes to the 
right or left, and these parties could perceive no change in the reading,— and in 
their field operations close readings of graduations had to be taken by assistants. 
We do not here refer to the " difference of reading " of two persons, which under 
the term of "personal equation" is calculated and allowed for in refined as- 
tronomical observations.* 

If the Engineer is satisfied that his graduations are correct, he need read but 
one of his verniers, rendering the window of the opposite, one opaque (to pre- 
vent mistake by reading the wrong vernier) by dulling it with oil, or pasting a 
wafer on it. _ It is a good method, where two verniers are used, to have some 
mode of designating them apart ; our own mode is to engrave the letter A 
upon one, B upon the other. The numbering of the degrees may be done 
in several ways; our own method is to place on both the horizontal limb and 
needle ring two rows, one behind the other, and each row of a different sized 
figure, to prevent mistakes; one row in quadrants (0° to 90° each way), and the 
other a continuous one or from 0° to 360°. What are known in the trade as 
Surveyors' Transits (a form which we never make), and sold cheaper than the 
regular Engineers' instruments, have but one vernier. The centres, etc., of this class 
of instrument are not of a construction to admit of, or made as a general rule 
accurate enough to allow of double verniers, and of course great accuracy cannot 
be attained with such instruments. Those who purchase an instrument will find 
it the best policy to procure one accurate enough for the best work they may 
ever be called upon to do, but only to work up to the full accuracy of their in- 
strument when the character of the work may require it. As to the amount of 
error of graduation found in the ordinary run of instruments, it ranges from one 
to five minutes ;t some exceptional cases going even beyond this ; but theue latter 
were evidently caused by some disarrangement of the graduating engine, and 
could not have been overlooked had the instruments had opposite verniers. 

As a minute of arc causes an error of over 18 inches in a distance of a mile, 
in no case should the error of graduation be allowed to reach a minute." It is 
best in reading the graduations to hold the magnifier as near parallel over the 
graduations as possible, move the head slightly and notice whether the gradua- 
tions seem to move; if they do, parallax is the cause; raise or lower the magnifier 
until no movement is seen. It is best not to use a magnifier with too high a 
power; one from two to three inches focal length is sufficiently powerful for gen- 
eral use. The spacing of the verniers should also be exact— that is, in a 
minute vernier (reading a half degree plate) they should be precisely 29' apart,— 

* To show that this "personal equation" is inborn and not the result of inexperience, 
we may mention the cases of the two celebrated astronomical observers Bessel and Struve, 
between whom at one period of their lives it amounted to .8 of a second, and at a later period 
to a full second. 

f Much dissatisfaction with these instruments (Engineers' Transits) was expressed by the 
assistants; their objections were these,— first, an eccentricity or imperfection of graduation 
of two minutes, more rarely three minutes, was frequently found in the reading of the ver- 
niers of the horizontal limbs, etc.— Extract from Report of Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., to 
the Sec. of War, House of Rep., pub. doc, 1873. 



6 THE TRANSIT. 

one common error in verniers is the not spacing all the lines equal (i. e., some 
being 28' 30", others 28' 45" apart). One of the easiest methods to prove their 
freedom from this defect is by setting the halfway line (15') to cut a line on the 
horizontal limb, and the other three 15' must cut (presuming that the verniers 
are double, and opposite, properly adjusted, and a truly graduated horizontal 
limb). Our own practice in adjusting Transits is to test our horizontal 
limb with powerful microscopes, by opposite readings and "repeating rever- 
sions " on every part of the circle. 

It also serves to keep the instrument in better order if the tripod head, with 
its levelling screws, can be detached and packed away with the instrument proper. 
In travelling the tripod should have a cap to its head, and a ring to confine the 
legs. The adjustments will keep better if four india-rubber washers are BCrewed 
at the corners of the bottom of the box, as these washers often absorb shocks 
and prevent their reaching the instrument with so much force. Remember 
also that the necessarily experienced frequent adjustment of an instrument, 
more especially of the cross wires, is due not so much to use as to the common 
error of supposing that the tighter screws are forced, the firmer and more lasting 
will be the adjustment. On the contrary, something must be strained, and every 
change of temperature is then more liable to alter the adjustment. 

The adjusting levers should be rather short than otherwise (say about 1J 
inches) — inasmuch as by using a long one too much force may be inadvertently 
applied, and thus either snap a screw or overstrain some more delicate part of 
the instrument ; in fact, a brass wire would perhaps make the best adjusting pin, 
as it would bend if undue pressure were applied. Another common error is 
to place leather washers under the levelling-screws. This should never be done, 
especially on a Levelling instrument, the leather being affected both by the 
weather and by the pressure of the ends of the screws. It is almost impossible 
for an instrument with such leathers to retain precisely the same line of sight 
even for a few moments. 

The brass of which the instrument is made should not be ordinary yellow 
brass, for several reasons — first, because the brass as it comes from the melting- 
pot is too soft for use, and requires to be condensed with a hammer; and this 
hammering can never be so equally done but that some parts will be more con- 
densed than others, and unequal expansion and contraction, and hence derange- 
ments of adjustment at every change of temperature, are the results; second, the 
Zinc which is a prominent part of the alloy of yellow brass will in time by mere 
atmospheric exposure change the texture of the metal, so as to make it lose a 
certain percentage of its cohesion. Lockmakers and those who use thin brass 
of this kind for springs well know that if it is exposed to the weather for some 
time it loses its cohesion, and breaks at the slightest pressure like pie-crust— in 
their phrase becomes "rotten." Of course this is almost an imperceptible 
change, but some unaccountable variations of the adjustments of instruments 
(the heavier, the more liable) can only be explained on this hypothesis. The 
proper metal for instruments is an alloy with little or no zinc, and in density 
at least as close as the best hammered brass; hard "bell-metal" being the best 

A variation plate is also sometimes added to the ordinary transit in the 
manner of the variation plate of the ordinary Surveyors' Compass, and for the 
same purpose. This adds however to the weight of the instrument. Any 
contrivance for taking sights at a right angle to the telescope will be found 
useful for offsetting. We always add one to our complete transits. 

The ordinary Plummets that are used with the transit to centre it over a stake 
or pointwill also require examination, inasmuch as some of these, from cavities 
in their interior (from defective casting), although apparently solid on the outside, 
will not hang plumb ; and in nice operations may be an unsuspected cause of 
error. The best method of testing these is while holding the string of the 
plummet in the hand, to twist the string somewhat, and while the string is un- 
twisting, to lower the point of the plummet into a basin of water; if the weight 
is not truly distributed, and consequently the plummet not true, the eccentric 
motion of the steel point will scatter the water. 

As the defects of the telescope will be treated under that head, and those of 



MINING TRANSIT — TUNNEL TRANSITS. 7 

the magnetic needle under " Surveyor's Compass," the reader is referred to those 
articles. 

We here close the "errors of workmanship" of the transit instrument; as to 
the defects of the plan of their construction, and the methods devised for their 
remedy, the reader will find this subject treated in detail in the paper from the 
American Philosophical Journal, and in the exhaustive report of the Committee 
of Civil Engineers, a little further on. 



MINING TRANSIT. 

A full description of our new Transit, intended for mining purposes, will be 
found in Prof. R. W. Raymond's paper further on. Since that paper has been 
written we have made several changes which render them more complete for 
the purposes intended. Instead of a prism to the eye-piece, an extra tele- 
scope is placed on the end of the axis of the regular telescope, on the side oppo- 
site to the vertical arc. — This side telescope swings clear of the plates, and allows 
a vertical sight to be taken directly up or down a shaft ; or any angle of eleva- 
tion or depression to be taken too steep for the central telescope to measure. This 
telescope makes the instrument similar to the "eccentric or German Mining 
Transit," with this advantage over that form — that when a steep slope is not 
required to be measured it can be removed in a moment aud packed away in 
the box, and the central telescope used as usual. — This side telescope is adjusted 
so as to be parallel with the central one; and the horizontal wires of the two 
telescopes will cut the same level line. It is also so arranged that the long level 
and vertical circle of the centre telescope can be used by the side one. 

As the proper reading of the graduations is one of the greatest troubles the 
Mining Engineer has to encounter, we have devised two articles to facilitate 
it. One is a small reflector that weighs 1$ ounces;* the other is a small attach- 
ment to the transit tripod for placing a lamp on ; this consists of a small table, 
on which by a " Cugnot's joint" ancl double centre arrangement a lamp can be 
placed in any position or angle that may be necessary. — This arrangement is 
strong, compact and effective, only weighing 24 ounces, and can be packed away 
in the transit box. 

We also make a lamp weighing about 5 ounces, which is more compact than 
the one ordinarily used; it is crescent shaped on the interior to fit to the curve of 
the observer's hat, and a simple arrangement secures it there. — It can be quickly 
detached and used either in the hand or on the table above mentioned. 

Copper should always be the material of the Mining Engineer's lamp, and this 
copper should be tested as to its freedom from magnetic attraction. We now 
furnish with our Plummet Lamps cases large enough to enclose a pair ; a strap 
on the outside of this case allows it to be carried over the shoulder. — The ordinary 
coal-oil such as is used for lamps is used ; the wick to be adjusted for use so that 
the flame is about 1\ inches high. These last three (i. e., the Reflector for the 
cross-wires, the Reflector for the graduations, and the Table) are also useful in 
taking astronomical observations with the ordinary Transit, such as, deter- 
mining the magnetic variation, the true meridian, etc. 

TUNNEL TRANSITS. 

The long Tunnels which have been built of late years, and the numerous 
others that are contemplated or in the course of construction, have created an 

* Another invention of this firm is a small reflector attachment to a mine transit, to facili- 
tate the reading of the angles. It is metallic, in shape the quadrant of a cylinder, and it has 
a base or support which doubles up with the C3'linder when not in use. It is placed just be- 
hind the vernier opening, and the light is reflected down upon the. vernier, thus avoiding the 
soiling of the instrument with grease and smut, which occurs when holding the light over it, 
and the reflector can be removed when not in use. — Extract from the report of the committee 
of visitation of the Polytechnic College to the establishment of Messrs. Heller '& Brightly, 
from the Polytechnic Bulletin, Nov., ]8"3. 



8 LEVELLING INSTRUMENT. 

entirely new class of Transits, which to designate them are called Tunnel Tran- 
sits. — These heretofore have been nothing more than the bar and centre of an 
ordinary Levelling Instrument, with standards high enough to allow of the re- 
versing of the Telescope (which generally has been the ordinary 17-ineh Level 
Telescope) ; but our attention having been called to the defects of this mode of 
construction, we have devised one that possesses all the accuracy of tl e As- 
tronomical Transit.* — In a Tunnel Transit, the principal adjustment being that 
of making the " line of collimation" revolve in a truly vertical plane, the same 
means employed in adjusting and testing the Astronomical Transit are also em- 
ployed [i. e., the ends of the axis of the Telescope are cylindrical and resting on 
small Y's, to allow of its being taken out and reversed end for end. A sensitive 
striding level is attached to the axis at right angles to the line of sight). 

The Telescope should be as powerful as possible, as very long sights are 
necessary in this class of work. 

LEVELLING INSTRUMENT. 

A first class Levelling- Instrument should possess the following qualities: 
The Telescope should be powerful enough to read the face of a levelling rod di- 
rect [i. e., without the aid of a target) at at least 800 feet — the object slide of 
the Telescope (like that of the Transit) should slide in and out in a perfectly 
straight line, so that the "line of collimation," when in adjustment tor a long 
distance, shall be correct for a short one. — The tests for proving the optical per- 
formance of the Telescope will be treated under the head of Telescope. 

The interior 01 the glass level tube should be ground to a regular curve, so 
as to secure both accuracy and sensitiveness in the bubble ; if the bubble, instead 
of being cylindrical in bore, should be slightly funnel-shaped (which is very 
apt to be the case without great care), it will be quite impossible to either adjust 
or level with accuracy. This serious but common defect is no doubt the un- 
suspected cause of much inaccurate levelling. 

The tripod and head should be very firm, and the centre of gravity of the level 
as near to the tripod head as possible. The centre of the instrument should 
be long, firm and well fitted to its socket, and not detachable from the instru- 
ment proper. 

Inasmuch as it is difficult, on steep sideling ground, for either the rodman or 
leveller to know whether the rod is held vertical, we always place marks on the 
collar of the Telescope and inside of the Y's; by observing if these are in eon- 
tact, the leveller will be certain that when his instrument is levelled his vertical 
hair is truly vertical, and this enables him to keep the rod vertical, unless the 
rodman has a plummet or some contrivance similar to our "rod level." 

One form of Level (one which we never use) that is liable to constantly lose 
its adjustments unless great care is used is that in which the cone of the socket 
enclosing the centre fits into a recess in the tripod head. If any flying dust settles 
on this socket (which it is almost impossible to avoid), it will cause it to stick so 
fast that to take the instrument from off the tripod requires a sudden shock up- 
ward to release it from the recess ; this shock of course cannot but be detri- 
mental to the adjustments. The best plan, when this form of instrument is 

* On the eighth of December, Mr. Heller, of the firm of Heller <fc Brightly, by invitation, 
brought their "Improved Tunnel Transit" to the college and exhibited it before the several 
classes. He gave a short account of the construction of an ordinary Transit and of Tunnel 
Transits, and explained the adjustments requisite to prove their accuracy, after pointing out 
the distinguishing features of their Tunnel Transit as compared with the ordinary style, the 
principal of which Mr. Heller remarked having been suggested by J. Button Steele, Esq., and 
first applied in practice to the Tunnel Transit used by Mr. Steele in the alignment of Nes- 
quehoning Tunnel (Carbon Co. Penna.), . . . and that another one of these Transits was 
now being used by Robert H. Sayres, Esq., of the Easton and Ambny R. R. in aligning a 
Tunnel on their road of over a mile in length, ... At the close of Mr. Heller's remarks, the 
Principal, after referring to the increase of Tunnelling operations at the present day. and the 
necessity of all the details connected therewith being closely studied by the scholars, a vote 
of thanks to Mr. Heller was moved and unanimously adopted. — From the Polytechnic Bulletin, 
January, 1874. 



LEVELING INSTRUMENT. 9 

used, is to be careful before setting the instrument on the tripod to be sure that 
both the outside of the socket and its recess are scrupulously clean : all the 
above causes of instrumental error in levelling are well known to those who 
make levelling a specialty, especially to the " Canal Engineer." The sudden 
death of the late Ellwood Morris, Esq., prevented the completion of a work for 
which he was peculiarly adapted, and for which he had been accumulating ma- 
terial for many years, on "Levelling and Levelling Instruments." After serving 
as a member of the Committee of Civil Engineers appointed by the Eranklin 
Institute to examine our "Improved Transit," Mr. Morris entered into a long 
correspondence with us in reference to the defects of the ordinary Level, and the 
removal of them, in which he alluded to all the above defects. In referring to 
the above-mentioned defect of the object slide not moving in a straight line, 
he remarks : " One trouble I have frequently had — in the aberration caused by mov- 
ing the tubes for short and long sights. — I once had a Level which I never could 
make agree with itself in a transfer across a river, though I knew it was in 
good adjustment at all points. ... I have realized these defects from long ex- 
perience and much anxiety, but am not enough of a mechanic to give the true 
remedies. ... I have said that good work lias been done with modern Levels, 
defective as they are, but it has been with a world of care and trouble on the 
part of Assistant Engineers, who are very far from being stupid men." 

We were much struck, in our correspondence with Mr. Morris and others, to 
learn what a diversity of opinion existed even among experts as to what could 
be called "close levelling," — Mr. Moms in one of his letters asserting, "I 
have long ago made up my mind that no man can be considered a 'proficient 
leveller' who cannot run a line of levels in a circuit of 100 miles without 
differing more than one-tenth of a foot upon his. closing bench-mark." On 
mentioning this test of proliciency in levelling to another practical engineer, he 
retorts in this wise, — " I have just, with my new level that you furnished me, run 
one line of levels about ten miles, and when I closed back on my bench to test my 
work found an error of 0.07 ft., — this is close work, but it would not be close 
enough for your friend (Mr. Morris). — If any one should close on his bench 
with an error so small as he would expect (^ in 100 miles), I would say it was 
simply an accident, and the several errors (rod errors and distant errors) had 
in the aggregate balanced each other, and led him to suppose himself an expert." 

A third thinks that even Mr. Morris's error is too large, and that the levelling 
rods that read to j-^jo of a foot do not read close enough, and that for his own 
use he has had a rod divided so as to read by vernier to 10 o 00 of a foot, — but as 
the Levelling Instrument of this last expert, which he declared was in perfect 
order and adjustment, was found, on trial by us, to be out of adjustment ^ of a 
foot in 300 feet, perhaps his opinion may not carry much weight. 

The result of four series of test levels in France, of from 45 to 140 miles, 
averaged a difference of ^ of a foot in 43 miles, and the greatest error was £ of 
a foot in 56 miles ; another series of test levels in Scotland of two sets of levels 
of 26 miles was 0.02 of a foot. 

If the instrument is a good,one, and in perfect adjustment, and used by a 
competent person, the only two Causes of error in levelling that can occur (ex- 
cept by carelessness) are from what are called "rod errors" and "distance 
errors "—the " rod error" being caused by the assistant not holding the rod 
precisely vertical, — the "distance error" by the curvature of the earth af- 
fecting the result, when the "back" and "fore" sights are of very unequal 
length. 

To counteract as much as possible these two causes of error, we have devised 
for the first a "rod level "* — this " rod-level " is also intended for setting transit 
"flag-poles" vertical, as well as "levelling rods." 

* "We were also shown a spirit level for the use of rodmen. It is an ordinary disk-level 
attached to an L-shaped piece of brass, a limb of the L extending downward, and at a right 
angle with the level. By placing this limb against the side of the rod or flag-staff, and clasp- 
ing it there, the rodman is enabled to know when his rod is vertical." — Extract from 
the report of the committee of visitation of the Polytechnic College to the establishment of 
Messrs. Heller & Brightly, from the Polytechnic Bulletin, Nov., 1873. 



10 TELESCOPES. 

For the distance errors, we place on the "diaphragm," or ring carrying the 
ordinary cross-wires, two extra hairs,* — these we adjust so as to pvtciaety take in 
1 foot of a rod placed at 100 feet distance from the instrument. — After taking the 
level reading, the space on the rod enclosed by these hairs is also noted, and 
the rod sent in the opposite direction until the hairs enclose the same space. — For 
example, if the hairs inclose 3^j feet on the rod, the rod is 350 feet away from 
the instrument. — To avoid taking the wrong hair in the " level sight " the 
" Stadia hairs " are placed vertical, and the telescope after taking the level 
sight must be turned quarter around in the Y's to read them.t 

In a recess on the inner edge of the " clips" that confine the telescope in the 
Y's, there is generally placed a piece of cork, or a spring to bind the telescope. — 
When this cork, etc., fails to bind, either a new piece of cork must be substi- 
tuted or paper placed between to clamp. — We have arranged our clips so that by 
slightly turning a milled head screw on their top the cork is forced out suffi- 
ciently to again bind the telescope. 

In some level telescopes, it will be observed, while turning the telescope 
in the Y's, for the purpose of adjusting the cross-wires to the "line of collima- 
tion," that the object appears to move with the telescope. — The cause of this is 
that the object glass is not well centred {i. e., the optical axis of the object 
glass does not lie in the same line as the axis of the telescope tube) ; this is a 
serious defect that can only be cured by substituting in whichever the defect 
happens to exist a new glass or tube.} 

TELESCOPES. 

A good Telescope should possess power, definition and light; and every 

part should be made with the greatest care, so as to have as lew adjustments 
as possible. 

As to the method by which we have doubled the power of our Telescopes 
without increasing their length, the reader is referred to the articles on pages 
25 and 26. 

If two Telescopes are to be compared, as to their power, definition and 
light, they should be placed side by side, and looked through at the same time,? 
in order that any atmospheric or local influence should affect both equally. An 
optician's test, a'watch dial, shoukl be used ; the difference of magnifying power 
between the two instruments can be seen by the apparent size of the dial ; ami if 
in one Telescope the dial appears twice as large, as in the other, this Telescope has 
twice the magnifying power. — In the telescope through which the dial appears 
brightest, the light is most abundant; and the sharpness of outline of the figures 
and minute lines will give a good test of the definition. 

If the face of the dial appears sharp black and white, with no* tinge of 
color, and the image as sharp at the edge as at the centre of the field of view, 
the chromatic and spherical aberrations are well corrected. — Besides the above 
test [i. e., the brightness of image) for the amount of light passing through the 
Telescope, let the two Telescopes stand side by side until twilight comes on ; the 
one which will show objects latest has practically the most light. 

Adequate magnifying power is the first requisite in a Telescope, not only 
for viewing objects at a distance, but for the purpose of doing more accurate 

* See article on Stadia measurements. 

f These Stadia hairs will also be found useful as a means of measuring distances quickly 
when " flying levels" are taken. 

J This "error of centring" must not be confounded with the error of the line of eolliroa- 
tion not being the same "for long and short distances," the first being caused by a "defective 
object glass," the second by a defective " object slide or tube." 

§ The best time for telescopic observations is not when the sun is shining, as is generally 
supposed; on the contrary, a clear cloudy day, or when the sun is slightly obscured. RecolUct 
also that the best sight is always in a direction opposite to the sun (i\ e., sighting to the west 
in the morning, to the east in the afternoon). A good background to the object will facilitate 
the view (the sky is a very good one if it can be obtained) ; if none can he had naturally, im- 
provise one of some neutral tint behind the object. This is specially needful in long ranges. 



to 

s 

^ 2 

W H 
i— i 
fcr 1 




surveyor's compass. 11 

work at comparatively short distances, as the ease with which sights can be 
taken and judged adds to the facility of the field work. Besides the above 
tests, after precise focussing of an object the slightest pushing in or drawing 
out of the object glass (by means of its milled head pinion) from the point ot 
distinct vision should render the image confused and indistinct, "for a Telescope 
that will admit of much motion in the sliding tube without affecting sensibly the 
distinctness of vision will not define well at any point, for its object glass has 
spherical aberration." 

The following test will show whether the glass is perfectly achromatic (or 
without color) : " focus on a bright object, such as a star, etc. ; alternately push in 
and draw out the eye piece from the point of distinct vision. If in the former 
case a ring of purple is formed around the edge, and in the latter a light green 
(which is the central color of the prismatic spectrum), the glass is achromatic, 
for these colors show that the extreme colors red and violet are corrected." The 
placing of diaphragms or stops within the object slide or body tube, so as 
practically to reduce the diameter of the object glass from § to £, is a common 
but reprehensible practice, inasmuch as such diaphragms exclude light, so that 
operations cannot be continued to as late an hour in the afternoon. 

On examining the object glass head of our Telescopes, an index mark will 
be found across the cell of the glass and the head of the slide. — The object of this 
is, in case the object glass cell is ever taken out, that by seeing if these marks 
coincide when it is again screwed in, we may know that it is at the same place; 
or that the glass has not gotten loose by transportation. 

Defective centring of the object glass, and of the lenses of the eye piece, and 
crooked tubes are by no means uncommon. — These last defects, however, may be 
concealed (except from experts) by screw adjustments (in the manner of the web 
diaphragm) of the eye piece and object glass. — These last, however, if the glasses 
and tubes are true, are unnecessary; for if the object glass and the lenses of 
the eye piece of a Telescope are properly made and mounted, the tubes 
perfectly straight, the sides properly fitted, the line of collimation (when 
adjusted) must come in the centre of the field of view, and if it does not, 
something must be wrong in some part of the Telescope, and any means of ad- 
justment only conceals the evil. 

One error of judgment is also sometimes made, and that is that the bore of 
the Telescope tube itself is so small as to cut off considerable of the light from 
the object glass. — Some Engineers prefer a small hole in the eye cap to sight 
through, others a large one, — but they must recollect that the size of this hole, 
as well as the size of the Telescope tube, is fixed by rule. 

The eye-cap hole should always have a slide to cover it. — Both this and the 
cap on the object glass should always be kept on when not in use. This is a point 
that is almost universally neglected ; the cap as a general rule being lost within 
a few weeks' time; but if it is recollected that the fine polish of the objectglass 
gives in a great measure the sharpness and brilliancy to the object, — which if 
this polish is destroyed is also in a measure destroyed — more attention would be 
bestowed on it. Any one who has looked through an old ship's Telescope in which 
the polish has been destroyed by constant wiping of the glasses may have ob- 
served this. * 

If the objectglass becomes dusty, brush it off with a fine camel's-hair brush, 
or a piece of soft, clean buckskin, linen or silk, taking care to use a fresh place on 
the buckskin at every rub. If the glasses become very dirty, wash them with 
alcohol. 

SURVEYOR'S COMPASS. 

In a good surveyor's compass the slits of the sights should be precisely in a 
line with the two zero lines of the ring, — and these sights at right angles to 
the main plate. — It should be as light as is consistent with strength and steadi- 
ness. The magnetic needle is, however, the main point, and any one of the 
following defects will prevent its free working — bad steel, — too great heat in 
forging,— improper tempering or defective magnetism. 



12 surveyor's compass. 

"We sometimes receive communications from parties wishing to make magnetic 
needles, — the following will give them the information sought for. 

The steel should be either of shear or the best cast steel, converted from 
Swedish Danemora iron (shear steel being the best, however). — If the needle is 
forged into shape, care should be taken not to overheat it during that process. — 
After filing and finishing into shape and length, it is to be hardened and tem- 
pered, and it is this operation that is most liable to be improperly performed, — 
the needle being so thin that it is apt to get too hot in places, and burnt steel 
never magnetizes properly. 

"Our own method is to heat a crucible of lead to a cherry red color, and to 
heat the needle therein, and when it is to the proper heat plunge it into water, — 
the beauty of this method being that, even though the needle be allowed to re- 
main a considerable time therein, it can never attain a greater heat than the lead 
itself has. 

After hardening', the needle should be tempered. — A good rule for the degree 
of hardness to which the steel is to be reduced is this: when the length ex- 
ceeds thirty times the thickness, to temper to dark red, or red blue, — when 
the length is under this, to leave them untempered. 

In magnetizing, two methods can be employed, first, by passing over each 
end the opposite poles of a fixed magnet; second, by a magnetic coil. If the 
first method be the one employed, a thin film of oil on the needle during mag- 
netizing will greatly increase the power; but the method that is most certain of 
thoroughly magnetizing to "saturation," and with no possibility of "different 
polarities" being developed, is by passing the needle through a magnetic current. 

To any one who wishes to make a coil for this purpose, the following hints may 
be useful. A cylindrical coil of copper wire as thick as it is long, — this cylinder 
to have a bore ecmal to its thickness, (the copper wire to be rather thick. Our own 
coil is of i inch thick wire). — The exciting power to be a voltaic apparatus 
on "Groves'" principle (platina and zinc); — and the needle to.be magnetized 
passed up and down the interior of the copper cylinder. 

After being magnetized it is necessary to know if this has been done* prop- 
erly (i. e., if the latent magnetism of the needle has been fully developed, and 
if this magnetism is permanent) ; to prove the first the needle should lift a cer- 
tain amount of soft iron; (our own needles will lift ten times their weight). — 
Second, after noting the amount raised on first magnetizing, it should be tried, 
after say a week's time, and it should then have lost but little of its power. — It 
must be recollected that a soft, untempered needle loses almost all its magnetism 
within a comparatively short time, though at first it will develop as much, if not 
more than a tempered one.* 

The pin and the cap on which the pin works, require a peculiar shape; — the 
centre of the cap to be at as obtuse an angle as possible, consistent with having a 
proper centre, and this centre perfectly smooth ; — the centre pin to have a hard, 
round, smooth point; and this point with not too obtuse an angle. Defects of these 
two last, (cap and pin) are in eight cases out of ten the cause of the dull work- 
ing of the needle. 

To preserve the fine point of the centre pin from unnecessary wear or from 
being accidentally broken off, never jolt nor carry the compass without being sure 
that the needle is* screwed off the pin. — In using the needle, lower it carefully, so 
that it gently rests, and does not fall upon the centre pin. 

To prevent unnecessary wear of the centre pin, check the needle on first 
letting it down at the mean of its swing (t. e., if the needle swings from say O e to 
30°, check it by raising it off the pin by means of its screw at 15° ; gently let it 
down again, and it will be within a few "minutes of its proper settling place). 

Never allow the needle to be played with by a knife or a piece of iron or 
steel, for two reasons; — first, the instrument should never be made a plaything; 
second, every near passing of a piece of iron or steel removes a portion of the 

* If the reader wishes to investigate thoroughly the subject of magnetism and magnetic 
needles, he will find ample material in the works of Scoresby, Sabine, Brewster, or the Encyc. 
Brittanica, art. Magnetism. 



surveyor's compass. 13 

magnetism of the needle (almost the entire magnetism can be removed by a se- 
ries of such passings). A needle should never (excepting for special purposes) be 
more than six inches long, it being very difficult to magnetize properly beyond 
this length without developing different polarities on the same side of the nee- 
dle. A five inch length is very good. 

Be sure that nothing to attract the needle is carried on the person in the 
shape of penknives, watch-chains, buttons, or iron rivets in the magnifier used 
to read the graduations. Of late years new causes of error from this have 
arisen. The new watches in which the movements are made of nickel are al- 
most as powerful in attracting the needle as if these movements were made of 
iron. The felt hat-makers' modern fashion of stiffening the rims of their 
hats by inserting around the edge a small iron wire (the extra broad brimmed, 
termed the military or Burnside hat, should especially be tabooed) should 
make the Surveyor examine both his hat and watch. 

There is one source of error which even the manufacturer must have a special 
apparatus to detect ; and this apparatus is as essential a part of his equipment as 
a lathe. This is a sensitive, mounted magnetic needle ; and every piece of brass, 
even of the smallest size, is tested by being brought near to this needle, in order 
to see whether any magnetic attraction is concealed. The brass-founder is 
the one here in fault, as impure copper or the smallest piece of iron, such as a 
tack, core wire, or stirring his melted crucible with an iron rod will engender this 
cause. These impurities, melting and diffusing throughout the brass, although im- 
perceptible to the eye, are brought to notice by the searching influence of the 
test needle. All the surveyors' Compasses made before the last 80 years are 
especially liable to error from this cause (those made by Kittenhouse are, how- 
ever, notably free from it ;) — and those who own any such should have them tried 
by some maker's " test needle" to prove their freedom from it. 

It would be a matter of surprise to some'to know how many needle instru- 
ments are defective from this cause, and we will give one instance that occurred 
lately. 

An English Compass, venerable with age and the associations connected with 
it, had been constantly used by a Surveyor for over 50 years, and by his father be- 
fore him. This Compass was held in such repute that all the farm lines in a 
radius of 100 miles had been established by it. In fact, the Surveyor and his Com- 
pass were held in such veneration as to be called in to settle every land dispute 
in the neighborhood, and the judgment of the two was considered final. At last 
the old Surveyor died, and such was the desire' of the surrounding land Surveyors 
to possess this Compass that at the auction sale of his effects it was sold for 
treble the price a new one could have been bought for. 

The fortunate possessor brought it to us for cleaning and adjusting; and some 
vagaries that took place in the adjusting induced us to give the instrument a 
thorough examination; and we found that this defect of "impure metal" was 
present in such a marked degree that in turning the instrument on its centre it 
was sufficient to draw the needle from its proper position from 10 minutes 
to 4° (in some spots 5°).* We are not surprised to hear, since the old Surveyor's 
death, that several lawsuits are in progress in this locality from land dis- 
putes. 

One common error of Surveyors is to choose a heavy needle ; this is a mistake. 
A heavy needle soon wears out the fine point of the centre pin. The superficial 
surface, and not the weight of the needle, determines the amount of mag- 
netism it is capable of receiving. 

One simple effect has sometimes bothered the young Surveyor. His needle 
will sometimes not traverse, but will persistently stick to the under side of the 
glass ; or one end at the lightest provocation would fly up to the glass and remain 
there. This is caused by the glass becoming charged with electricity (from rub- 
bing against the clothing, or being rubbed by a silk handkerchief). Touching the 

* This unequal attraction is one of the worst features in this imperfection ; if the iron were 
equally distributed throughout the metal, the attraction being equal, the needle would still 
point true. 



14 SOLAR TRANSIT. 

upper part of the glass in several places with the moistened finger tip, or breath- 
ing on the glass, will remove the electricity. 

SOLAR TRANSIT AND COMPASS. 

The Solar Compass, or Solar Transit, as ordinarily made, has the following 
defects : — first, it is very heavy and cumbersome; hard to get in adjustment, aim 
very liable to lose its adjustment; and the Solar apparatus, by occupying the 
upper surface of the plates, prevents a Telescope being added in the manner of 
an ordinary Transit. 

The best method to prove the Solar apparatus is the following : — Two hours 
before the sun culminates (10 A. M.) set up the instrument, level it carefully; 
with the latitude arc vernier set to the latitude of the place, and with the sun's dec- 
lination for that hour laid off on the declination arc, move the whole instrument 
until it is in its meridian (i. e., until the sun's image comes between it> Lines : let 
it stand until the sun is as much beyond its meridian as in the first observation it 
was before it (2 P. M.) ; the 4 hours' difference of declination are to be added or 
subtracted (as the case may be) on the declination arc; — and if the sun's image 
still keeps between its silver lines, the polar axis of the instrument is parallel to 
the earth's polar axis ; and the sun's image on the silver plate will follow the sun 
in its path during the day (allowance, however, being made for the refraction aud 
hourly difference of declination). 

It is, however, in very rare instances, that the instrument will stand the 
above test, its polar axis being generally outof adjustment so much that the at'u-r- 
noon's observation will require it to be moved east or west of its meridian from 
5' to 45' (in some cases even more than this), to bring the sun's image again be- 
tween the lines on the silver plate. If, however, the instrument stands this test, 
it only proves the truth of its Solar apparatus, and we must try whether the 
Telescope or sights are placed by the maker on the true meridian. 

The best method of testing this is with an ordinary Transit, and an observa- 
tion of the North Star, to first establish a true meridian line; and after setting 
up the Solar in the regular way, see whether the sights or cross hairs of Telescope 
cut the same line. By this observation it can also be seen whether the magnetic 
Variation of the place agrees with the variation shown by the Solar Compass ; 
and if not, the movable arc of the needle box vernier can be shifted until it do, > bo. 

The successful addition of a Telescope to the instrument has not heretofore 
been accomplished. The inventor, Burt, after numerous attempts, contented 
himself with placing a small inverting Telescope at the south end of the Compass 
plate; but the necessarily small size of the Telescope, and the one-sided 
weight that it added to the instrument, make this method an imperfect one. 

Another method is to place a Telescope on the side, as in the "German Min- 
ing Transit;" but the side weight is also added to the instrument; the difficulty 
of adjusting the line of collimation of the Telescope, and the line of sight of 
the telescope, and the centre of the instrument not being in the same line, requir- 
ing a constant of this "difference of centre " to be applied to every sight, pre- 
vented it from becoming popular. 

Another method is to place the Solar apparatus on the top of the axis of the 
Telescope of a regular Transit (the very worst place that could be thought of ). 

The standards of the Telescope of an ordinary Transit have also been beat 
outward, so as toallow the Telescope to reverse outside of theSolar apparatus — but 
as long as the Solar apparatus remains on top of the plates no Telescope can be 
successfully applied. 

The first idea of the inventor, Burt, was to place the Solar apparatus be- 
low the main plates, which would have solved all the trouble as to the Telescope ; 
but as on experiment it was found that the lens, to form the. sun's image, must 
have a six inch focal length (and consequently a six inch bar), this was 
abandoned. 

We manufacture a Solar Transit (patent of Benj. Smith Lyman, Esq.) which 
overcomes all these difficulties. — It is our regular Engineer's Transit, with the 
compound centres of the usual length, and a variation plate extra — with 
the Telescope in the centre as usual. The Solar apparatus is placed below 



NEW STRAIGHT LINE MEASURER. 15 

the plates, out of the way of harm. The lens-bar is only two inches long, the focal 
length of the lens is, however, the regular six inches' length ; but before focussing 
on the silver plate the sun's rays are made to pass through two opposite prisms, 
making three passages across the bar (in contrary directions), of two inches each, or 
six inches in all. When it is called to mind that prisms do not alter the conver- 
gency of the rays, but only their direction, the beautiful simplicity of this arrange- 
ment will be seen. All the adjustments of the Transit, as to " line of collima- 
tion," etc., are the same as for the ordinary Transit. In fact, it can be used as an 
ordinary Transit without regard to the Solar apparatus if need be. The Solar 
apparatus is more compact than usual, and less liable to get out of order, and 
weighs about a pound, making the entire instrument weigh but little more than 
a regular Transit. 

ON THE DEFECTS OP THE ORDINARY CHAIN AND STEEL 
TAPE MEASURES, WITH AN ACCOUNT OP A NEW 
MEASURING APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHT LINES. 

Before mentioning a new measuring apparatus, it might perhaps be best 
to allude to those in common use, and the objections found to them in actual 
practice. 

The defects of the ordinary chain are too well known for us to enter much 
into detail — its weight, the unavoidable wearing of the points of contact of its 
numerous links and rings,* the kinking and breaking of the links, etc. 

The English steel ribbon tape is much more accurate, but it also has its 
defects; first, they are never precise United States standard length, it being our 
practice, whenever we furnish one of these steel tapes, to give its length as com- 
pared with the true United States standard, and the state of the thermometer at 
the time of trial. "We have found that the 50 feet tape is generally from -^j to 
■j^jy, and the 100 feet from -^ to r ^y, of a foot too short (the 50 feet over \ of an 
inch, 100 feet J an inch, or in a mile more than 2 feet too short). The amount of 
error is small, and in a majority of cases would be of no consequence ; but where 
accurate measurements are required would lead to error; second, the numerous 
joints in their length, (every joint in a tape being a source of weakness and in- 
accuracy) ; — their never being over 100 feet in length — (and in numerous cases, 
such as measuring across bridge piers, rivers or marshes, in shafts of mines or 
tunnels, etc., it is necessary to have a greater length than this) — their liability to 
breaking, and lastly their cost. 

Having had occasion to make a measure 500 feet long that should be light, 
not easily broken, and very accurate, and not too expensive, we have devised a 
tape that fulfils these conditions. We are now prepared to furnish these tapes of 
any length, from 100 to 1000 feet, in one continuous ribbon — having no joint from 
end to end, and warranted precise United States standard in length. Large brass 
handles to unship at each end and a reel to wind the tape on are also furnished — 
as to their weight, a 400 feet tape (without handles) weighs 2\ pounds. 

We are well aware that tapes of this material have been made before, but 
for the following reasons have never been popular. First, no reels were furnished 
with them ; second, the steel ribbon, being of soft steel (not tempered), was liable 
to alterations in length. (Our own tape stretches taut with a strain of a few 
pounds, and after being taut allows of an extra strain even to breaking with- 
out perceptibly altering the measure) ; third, the graduations and numbering 
being scratched on the face of the tape itself, and the tape always breaking 
at these marks in cold weather, or when the tape was kinked in the slightest. 
To prevent this breaking, the graduations have been etched with acid on the face 
of the tape, or the marks were placed on a thin layer of tin soldered on the tape. 
But these marks were not legible enough, hard to find, and easy to efface. — The 

*If each of the 300 points of contact of a 100 foot chain (each link with its two rings 
having three points of contact) wears only the 1 J of an inch, making 3 inches difference in 
the whole length. 



16 STADIA OR MICROMETER MEASUREMENTS. 

marking of our tape is by a device entirely our own. It is not upon the face of 
the tape itself, is very legible, aud the tape is stronger at the graduations than at 
any other portion. 

For Mining and Bridge purposes these tapes are peculiarly adapted — the 
unshipping of the handles allowing the end handle to be taken off after a 
measurement, and the tape to be pulled forward with no handle to catch in, 
any obstruction. 

In City work tapes for close measurements are not used, but what are termed 
"Contact Rods" are adopted. These are rods of a certain length (10 feet 1 icing 
the most common), and are used in pairs; the two being joined together when 
in use by a " clamp socket" in their centre ; or, after one is laid level, the second 
is brought in contact with it : the first one is then removed, and also then brought 
in contact with the second one, and so continued. 

These rods are usually made from some well-seasoned, straight-grained 
wood, such as ash, cedar or pine, the wood protected from the weather by paint 
or varnish, the ends shod with brass, and the whole length made very exact in 
its measure. 

In making these Rods, our own experience is that good, seasoned, straight- 
grained white pine, of what is termed "rafted lumber" (i. e., wood that has been 
floated to its place of destination in rafts), is to be preferred. The immersion in 
the water for weeks washing all the sap from the timber, and thus too lessening 
its liability to change. 

STADIA OR MICROMETER MEASUREMENTS. 

As considerable attention is now being bestowed on what are termed Stadia 
or Micrometer measurements, and this method being almost the only one that can 
be employed sometimes in such measurements as across rivers, inaccessible 
morasses, meandering along rivers and streams, etc., we will give a brief account 
of the means employed. 

One method is this — first, carefully measure off say 100 feet on the ground, 
place a levelling rod at this point, and note on the vertical circle of a Tran- 
sit the angle passed over by the horizontal cross wire of the Telescope, in mov- 
ing over one foot of the Rod; and from this as a constant, a table is made. 
The second method is similar to the first, except that instead of reading on the 
vertical circle, the space passed over by the Telescope is noted by observing the 
number of revolutions and parts of revolutions of a tangent screw (by means 
of a micrometer head), and using this as a constant. 

In this last method the instrument must be very carefully used ; for if the tan- 
gent screw has the least "lost motion " or " back lash," or if the screw threads 
wear unequally, the micrometer head will not measure correctly. 

The first method is preferable to the screw ; but the vertical circle should 
be larger than usual, so as to allow of a vernier reading to less than minutes of 
arc. Both of these methods require, however, constant care in the observa- 
tions, and after calculations to get the precise distance. The United States 
Coast Survey, who have given the greatest attention to Stadia measurements, 
have adopted the two-hair method in their " Plane Tables." This is the one we 

E refer, and is as follows: — beside the ordinary horizontal and vertical cross 
airs, as seen in the field of view of the Telescope, two extra horizontal hairs 
are placed parallel with the central one, and equally distant on each side from it. 
These two extra hairs are so placed that if a levelling rod is held 100 feet 
from the telescope, they will enclose one loot of its length. 
With this as a constant (1 foot in 100 feet), a table can "be made, 
and any distance that the Rod may be from the Instrument 
can be precisely measured by reading its face (i. e., if the 
hairs take in 2{^ feet of a rod, the rod is just 250 feet awav, 3^, 
310 feet, etc.). 

Stadia measurements have not heretofore given as good re- 
sults in this country as in Europe, for the simple reason that 
(outside of the Coast Survey) the Telescopes have not had suffi- 




STADIA OR MICROMETER MEASUREMENTS. 17 

cient power to read the rod, with the closeness consistent with the accuracy re- 
quired for this operation. Our new Telescopes, however, remedy this. 

There is one fact in regard to Stadia measurements that is very little 
known, even by those who are constantly employed in using it on Plane Tables 
and other instruments ; and which will account for many of the inaccuracies of 
§tadia measurements in close work. 

The starting point for the Stadia measurements is generally supposed to be 
indiscriminately — either the centre of the instrument — the centre of the cross hairs 
— or from a plumb line dropped in front of the object glass; and all three places 
have their advocates. These are all wrong, however — the precise place being a 
point as far in front of the object glass as is its focal length ;* for example, 
if the focal length of the object glass is six inches,! the starting point is a point 
six inches forward of a plumb' line dropped from the front of the object glass — 
and if a measurement be required from one fixed point to another, place "the in- 
strument back from the starting point this amount. 

A still better mode, however (where a transit is used), is to also measure from 
the object glass to the centre of the axis of Telescope, and add this also to the 
focal length of the glass, and all the measures will then be from the centre of the 
instrument, bearing in mind, however, that this amount is a constant, and must be 
added to the recorded Stadia reading at every sight or change of the instrument. 
We will take, for example, one of the ordinary Transit Telescopes. — The object 
glass of six feet focal length, and the cross wires placed close up to the axis of 
Telescope, or about six inches from the object glass. In this case one foot must 
be added to every Stadia sight (not to every 100 feet), to bring it to the centre 
of instrument. In cases where the sights are long, this small amount is of 
no consequence ; but where a series of short sights are taken — for instance, in a 
mine gangway — one so tortuous that seven sights of 100 feet each are neces- 
sary in that length, if the measurements are from the centre of the instrument, 
aud a Transit of the above description employed, if this " constant of the focal 
length of objective" is not allowed, there would be an error of 7 feet. 

The diaphragm to which the slides for carrying the Stadia wires are at- 
tached requires peculiar care in the workmanship, as the two slides to which the 
two extra hairs are attached (for the two hairs ought to be adjustable, independ- 
ent of each other or of the ordinary cross hairs) must move firmly, truly and 
smoothly, so that at any time the hairs can be adjusted with the ordinary adjusting 
pin without disturbing the adjustments of the ordinary cross wires. 

*If the size of the object seen through the telescope be called s; the distance from the ob- 
ject to the centre of the objective a; the size of the conjugate image of the object, equal to 
the distance apart of the two horizontal cross hairs, i ; the distance of this image from the 




centre of the objective x ; and the focal length of the objective// then, — =— / But the gen- 

x i 

eral formula of foci of lenses gives — =1 — -. Therefore, a—f=J-s; or a =<- » +/. 

x f i i 

Practically, the distance a has commonly been reckoned so large that the small distance/ was 

neglected, and the formula became a= -J s j in which L is a numerical coefficient peculiar to 

the instrument, and determined by observation once for all. The distances, in that case, are 
reckoned proportional to the space cut off on the rod, counting from the centre of the instru- 
ment, whereas they ought strictly to be counted from a point as far in front of the objective 
glass as the focal length of that lens. — Extract from paper on Telescopic Measurements in 
Surveying, by Benjamin Smith Lyman, Esq., in the Journal of the Franklin Institute, April, 
1868. 

f The focal length of any glass can be found close enough for this purpose by focussing 
the Telescope for an ordinary sight, and then with a foot rule measuring from the outside of 
the object glass to the'capstan head adjusting screws of the cross hairs. 



18 CAUSES OF INSTRUMENTAL ERRORS. 

In closing these remarks, it may be advisable to call attention to one cause 
of instrumental error which sometimes comes under our notice. We refer to 
cases where instruments injured by accident or worn by use are placed for re- 
pair in the hands of incompetent persons, or those who have not the facilities 
for properly repairing first-class work. This is not so uncommon as may be 
supposed. One extreme case of it was recently brought to our own notice, 
where a very costly and accurate instrument (made in Germany) was for ten years 
classed as having an inaccurate graduation and an inferior Telescope ; when in 
fact both faults were the result of ignorance in repairing the instrument. 

The centre upon which the instrument turned had originally been made in a 
"dead centre lathe" (see page 4), but the repairer had replaced this centre (for 
which change there was no occasion) with one turned on an inferior ordinary 
lathe; and in attaching the new centre, it had drawn the horizontal limb to one 
side in such a manner that the graduations were over seven minutes 17') from 
their true place; and moreover, in "improving" (?) the telescope, the dia- 
phragms in the eye piece had been alterea from their true places, so as to cut off 
over half of the light that should have passed through the Telescope. 

It is the best policy, where repairs may be needed, to put the instrument 
into competent hands ; and if none such can be found in the immediate neigh- 
borhood, the railroad Express system of the present day allows such to be readily 
reached.* 

* In conclusion, we would state that if any gentleman who owns an instrument, and wishes 
to compare its power, etc., with ours, will bring it to our office, we shall be happy to assist 
him in doing so. We have a watch-dial placed at a sufficient distance from our room to 
afford a satisfactory test. 



JOUENAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 19 



PAPER READ BEFORE THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCI- 
ETY, MAY 5, 1871, BY PROF. J. PETER LESLEY. 

(From Journal Proceedings American Phil. Soc, Jan. to July, 1871.) 



Heller and Brightly's New Transit. 

The Engineers' and Surveyors' Transit, as at first constructed, commonly termed a 
"flat centre," or " Railroad Transit," although superior to the English Theodolite, 
■which it superseded, yet in practice has been found defective in the following mechan- 
ical details : 

_ 1st. The upper or vernier plate, resting, and turning upon the under or graduated 
limb, was accompanied by so much friction, caused by the large extent of the rubbing 
surfaces, that, in turning the vernier plate around the limb, the whole instrument would 
sometimes be moved upon the lower spindle. 2d. The oil that was necessarily used to 
lubricate the plates, would become so congealed in cold weather that the plates would 
not move at all, and old Railroad Engineers will readilv recall the thawing out of 
their instruments over large fires, at every fall of the thermometer, before they could 
be used. 3d. The spindle upon which the entire instrument turns, being detached from 
the instrument, thus violating one of the standard rules, that, by long experience in 
this country and Europe, has been found necessary in the construction of any instru- 
ment with any pretensions to accuracy, viz.: "any instrument having a graduated plate 
and levels, should be so constructed that both of the centres upon which the instrument turns, 
should be always covered and not detachable from the main plates." To prove the utility of 
this rule, it is only necessary, after adjusting the levels of one of this class of Transits, 
so that they will reverse on the top centre, to clamp the two plates together, and turn 
the instrument on the lower spindle, and the levels will invariably be found out of 
adjustment, showing conclusively, that through some cause, most frequently the settling 
of flying dust, etc., upon the surface and shoulder of the spindle, the spindle is not at 
right angles to the surfaces of the plates. 4th. The centre around which the gradu- 
ated limb revolves, can only be the thickness of the graduated limb; this centre, by 
reason of its small surface, wears after comparatively short use, and does not exactly 
fit the conical hole in the graduated limb; and two readings of the same object taken 
•without any change in the position of the instrument, have been found to differ by 5', 
and from no other cause than this. 

These various defects have caused this style of instrument to be entirely discarded 
in city work, and for this another construction is used, in which the two main plates do 
not touch each other, thus obviating the two first evils, viz. : the friction of the two 
plates rubbing one over the other, and the stiffness of motion of the plates in cold 
weather. The sockets and spindles upon which the main plates revolve, being long and 
fitting one inside of the other, and neither of them being exposed or detached from the 
instrument, thus remedying the two last causes of error. These two are the only styles 
of Transit made, and are respectively termed the " short centre Transit" and the " long 
centre Transit." The " long centre," although the most perfect in its construction, has 
never been a favorite among Railroad Engineers for the following reasons: 

1st. The increased size of the centres making it heavier, and this being a very serious 
objection where an instrument must he carried several miles every day, as is frequent 
in Railroad surveys. 2d. The instrument not being detached from the tripod, except 
at the base, compelled the Engineer in moving the instrument from one station to 
another, to either carry the entire instrument himself, or trust it to his assistant; while 
in the short centre, the instrument lifting off the spindle, the Engineer could take the 
comparatively light instrument, with all the important parts, and leave his assistant to 
carry the heavier portion of the tripod, with its leveling screws, legs, etc. 3d. The 
removing and replacing of the instrument on the tripod, being accomplished by means 
of a large screw thread, is a very tedious and unsafe method, and if not very carefully 
performed, is liable to injure the instrument. 4th. The extra skill, time and care 
required in making the long centre, was so much greater than the flat centre, that the 
price of the instrument was materially increased. 

Ever since the introduction of the Transit, numerous endeavors have been made to 
reduce the weight of the instrument, but as they have all been conducted on the same 



20 JOUKNAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 

principle — i. e., reducing the thickness of the various plates, etc.— their only effect was 
to make the instrument so slight as to be unsteady, their bearing surfaces so short as to 
soon wear loose, and the instrument always losing its adjustment. The manufacturers 
of this instrument have had their attention drawn to the increased strength and steadi- 
ness that the employment of the "transverse section," "ribbing or bracing," imparted 
to metals; and the amount of metal that could be removed from a solid plate of metal, 
and its strength and steadiness not impaired, but even added to, if only judicious rib- 
bing was resorted to. In this improved Transit, which is a long centre, the freight as 
compared with an ordinary Transit of the same size, is reduced one-half, and the 
instrument is not contracted in any part, but in some parts, where increased size would 
be an advantage, such as the graduated plate, centre, etc., it has been done, but all the 
plates, etc., are ribbed in such a way, as to be stronger than a solid plate, and all metal 
that did not impart either strength or steadiness has been removed. 

The Railroad Engineer has in this instrument, a long centre Transit that can be 
taken from off the tripod and replaced in a quicker and surer way than the short centre 
Transit, but, unlike the short centre, keeps all the centres covered and not removable 
from the instrument, and leaves the tripod head and legs with the four levelling screws, 
etc., to be carried by his assistant. The difference in weight will be appreciated by 
the Railroad Engineer, when we inform him that a plain Transit, witli all its centres, 
etc., only weighs about as much as a Surveyor's Sight Compass; and is more steady 
and keeps in adjustment better than the ordinary long centre Transit, weighing from 
twenty-five to thirty pounds. 

The City Engineer has in this instrument all the advantages of the ordinary " long 
centre Transit" with only half the weight, and an increase of steadiness. 

There are several defects that are common to all Transits, among which are — 
1st. The "tangent or slow motion screw" that moves the upper or vernier plate, by 
use becomes worn, and does not fit precisely the thread in the interior of the nut 
through which it passes. When this Occurs, the tangent screw can be turned sometimes 
a complete revolution without moving the vernier plate. This " lost motion " or " back 
lash" of the tangent, is one of the worst annoyances of Engineers, and has been the 
source of serious errors in the field. Several methods have been devised to overcome 
this, which we will here describe. The nut through which the screw works has been 
made in two sections, to allow of being drawn together when the screw wears. This 
plan would answer if the screw always wore equally in every portion of its length — in 
other words, was a cylinder — but this it never does; and if the nut is tightened s<> that 
the lost motion is removed from the thinner portion of the screw, it will move so tightly 
as to be useless when it comes to the portions that are not worn so thin. There are 
several methods of drawing the nut together, but they have all the same objections as 
the above — that is, they are not effective in the entire length, and the nut must be 
pressed so very hard on the screw as to make the working of the tangent very tense, 
especially in cold weather. Another and the last method has been to apply a long 
spiral spring between the nut and the head of the screw that acts as the finger-piece, 
thus pressing the nut and the screw from each other, and consequently removing all 
" lost motion " from the screw. This plan, though in theory very good, in practice has 
been found inoperative, for the following reason : the spiral spring had of necessity to 
be made long enough, and stiff enough, to act in every portion of the screw's length, 
the alternate opening and closing of the spring by use weakened it, and in a short time 
it failed to remove the "back play." To get rid of this defect of "lost motion" in the 
tangent screw, opposing or butting screws have been sometimes substituted, but in use 
they do not give satisfaction, as two hands must be employed in using them, and stand- 
ing from the edge of the plate, they are liable to be injured by blows, and they are apt, 
unless very carefully used, to throw the instrument out of level. 

In this instrument we have an improved tangent screw, that, no matter how much 
the screw may wear by use or time, will never get "lost motion," but will instantly 
obey the slightest touch of the hand: this is effected by means of a long cylinder nut, 
from the interior of which two-thirds of the screw have been removed ; into half the 
recess thus left in the nut, is nicely fitted a cylindrical " follower," with the same length 
of screw thread as the nut; this follower is fitted with a "key," that prevents it turning 
in the recess, but allows motion in the direction of its length. A Btrong spiral spring 
is placed in the remaining half of the recess, between the fixed nut and the movable 
follower, and the spring has always tension enough to force the follower and fixed 
thread in contrary directions, and thus to remove any " lost motion " that may occur in 
the screw. It will be observed that in this method, the spring always remains in a 
state of rest, instead of closing and opening, as has been the case in ail other applica- 



JOURNAL AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 21 

tions of springs, and which have been the cause of their failure. Tangent screws that 
have had as much as 10' play have been made to work entirely taut by this method. 

The mode of attaching the tangent screw to the plates in this instrument is entirely 
new; it is a miniature modification of the "Gimbelling" of a ship's compass, and 
allows the tangent screw, by its free swivelling, to be tangent to the plates in every part 
of its length, and thus never to bind. This tangent screw is also of value for sextants, 
astronomical instruments, etc., where "lost motion" is detrimental, and a smooth, easy 
motion is required. In all instruments the brass cheeks in which the three legs of the 
tripod play are fastened to the lower parallel plate by a number of small screws, com- 
monly twelve. When the legs wear in the cheeks and become unsteady, the only 
method the Engineer has of tightening the legs is by drawing the cheeks in which the 
leg moves by means of the bolt that passes through the leg; this of necessity draws 
the cheeks out of perpendicularity, and strains the small screws that bind the cheeks 
to the parallel plate so much as frequently to loosen them. This source of instrumental 
error hardly, if ever, occurs to the Engineer, but very good instruments have been 
condemned as unsteady, when an examination has shown the fault to be the above. 
This source of error can never occur in this instrument, as the cheeks and the parallel 
plate are made in one solid piece. But to come to the last and most serious evil. The 
effective power of the Telescope is impaired by spherical aberration ; that is, the field 
of view, as seen in the Telescope, is not a perfect plane or flat, but is spherical! To 
prove this, take an ordinary telescope and focus it so that an object will be clearly 
defined at the intersection of the cross hairs or the centre of the field of view; then, 
by means of the tangent screw, bring the same object to the edge of the field of view, 
and it will be found in every case to be indistinct and not in focus ; on the contrary, 
focus it so as to be distinct at the edge, and it will be indistinct when brought to the 
centre. In some telescopes, however, it is impossible to focus at the outer edge of the 
field, and objects will be tinged with prismatic colors, showing that these glasses are 
affected by chromatic aberration also; sometimes the cause of this defect lies in the 
object glass, but in the majority of cases the lenses composing the eye-piece are in fault. 

These aberrations affect the working of the telescope in several ways. First, it 
practically diminishes the size of the object glass, and the view is never so clear and 
distinct as it ought to be. Second, it is very difficult, and in some cases almost impos- 
sible, to adjust the eye-piece to prevent parallax, or "travelling" of the cross wires, 
when the eye is shifted from side to side ; and practical Engineers know what a sharper 
power of defining and how much less trying to the eyes a "soft glass" has — that is, 
one that has a "fiat field." This defect has prevented the general use of the Stadia, or 
Micrometer wires, as a method of measuring distances without a chain, as the two 
horizontal hairs that are used, being in different parts of the field of view, cannot, in a 
majority of cases, be focussed so as to be devoid of parallax, and the slightest travelling 
of the wires in this operation will give an erroneous result. The evils of this defect 
were most forcibly brought to Mr. Heller and the late Wm. J. Young's notice when 
one of their best Transits failed to define in tunnel work, from loss of light, from this 
cause ; and they both endeavored, to within a short time of Mr. Young's death, to 
remedy it, trying all the known formulae of almost all the opticians in the country, but 
without any good results. In the Telescope of this instrument these evils are entirely 
removed by the employment of a new eye-piece, and advantage has been taken of the 
improvements that Optics have made in the last few years in the curvatures and 
arrangements of the lenses that compose it ; and the test referred to above, of focussing 
an object in the centre of the field of view and then bringing the same object to the 
edge, and it still remaining in sharp focus, can be done with this telescope, and the 
object shows no tinge of prismatic color, snowing that both chromatic and spherical 
aberration have been removed. 

The advantages of this improved Telescope are : a clear and sharply defined field 
of view ; a field of view so flat that the cross hairs are without parallax in every part 
of it, and micrometer hairs or Stadia can be used with favorable results. The whole 
effective power of the object glass being used and none of the light lost, work can be 
commenced earlier in the morning and continued later in the afternoon than is usual. 
This, in the winter season, is no slight matter to the engineer; and lastly, there is no 
straining of the eyes in sighting. The spider's web, by reason of its fineness, is the 
only article hitherto used for cross hairs, yet in use these have been attended with some 
difficulties: first, the spider's web is hygrometric, or is affected by the humidity of the 
atmosphere — when exposed to dampness lengthening, and of course throwing the line 
of collimation from its true place. This defect is more serious in the Engineer's 
Levelling Instrument than in the Transit, instances being known where the line of 



22 FRANKLIN INSTITUTE REPORT. 

collimation has altered two or three times in the course of ten hours by reason of 
atmospheric changes, and of course any observation taken at those times would be 
defective ; lastly, the spider's web being a transparent and not an opaque substance, 
in some positions it is impossible to see the hairs at all : this is more especially the case 
when sighting in the direction of the sun — that is, an easterly course in the forenoon, 
or westerly in the afternoon. To remedy this defect, platina cross hairs T ^- g of an 
inch in thickness, or as fine as spiders' web, are substituted ; these being opaque, and 
not transparent, in sighting in the direction of the sun are still visible, and any atmo- 
spheric changes, dampness, etc., do not afiect them. They believe that they are the 
first ones in this country who have drawn wire so thin, and the only ones who have 
made any practical use of Dr. Wollaston's experiment. The platina hairs are invalu- 
able in Mining and Tunnelling Instruments, that are so constantly exposed to damp- 
ness, and being opaque, no reflector to illuminate the cross wires is required. 

To prevent the stiffness of working of the levelling, tangent and other screws in cold 
weather, which arises from the congealing of the grease that is used in lubricating 
them, no oil is used upon the screws of this instrument, but they are lubricated with 
pure plumbago. 

By a simple arrangement of the clamps on the axle of their complete Transits, they 
make them also answer the purpose of a pair of Compass sights, for taking offsets at 
right angles to the telescope. 

From the above, it will be seen that this instrument has the following improvements 
over the ordinary Transit: 1. A simple, secure and steady method of attaching and 
detaching from the tripod, being the only long centre transit made that detaches as 
easily as a short centre. 2. An important decrease of weight, without decrease of size, 
and an increase of steadiness. 3. All the working parts of the tangent screw, etc., 
brought within the plates, making the instrument more compact. 4. An improved 
tangent screw, telescope, cross hairs and tripod head. 5. A pair of sights for taking 
offsets ; and 6. A new method of lubricating the screws. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS APPOINTED BY 
THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE TO EXAMINE A NEW TRANSIT 
INSTRUMENT. ' 

No. 863. Hall of the Franklin Institute, 

Philadelphia, December 18, 1871. 

The Committee on Science and the Arts constituted by the Franklin Institute of the 
State of Pennsylvania for the promotion of the Mechanic Arts, to whom was referred 
for examination the Transit instrument made by Messrs. Heller & Brightly, of No. 33 
N. Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 

REPORT 

That the instrument exhibits the best of workmanship, and combines several novelties 
of construction which, in the opinion of the Committee, render it superior to those 
now in common use. Among these novelties are, 1st. A great reduction of weight, 
without any loss of strength or steadiness. 2d. An improved method of attaching 
and detaching the instrument to and from the tripod head. 3d. All the working parts 
of the tangent-screw, etc., are brought within the circumference of the plates, thns 
diminishing liability to injury, and at the same time making the instrument more com- 
pact. 4th. An improved tangent-screw. 5th. Cross-wires of platina instead of spiders' 
web. 6th. A pair of sights placed in the standards, by means of which a right angle 
can at all times be laid off from the line of the teiescope ; this is very useful lor 
taking offsets from the line of survey. 7th. An improved telescope. 8th. A shifting 
or extension tripod leg, for use in mining or other contracted workings. 9th. The 
brass cheeks for the legs and the tripod head are cast in one piece. 10th. An improved 
lubricator for the scfews. 

The following is a detailed description of the above-enumerated improvements : 
First. The weight is reduced to about one-half that of an instrument of the same 
size, made in the usual way, by rubbing and bracing the plates, etc. ; and all metal that 
does not impart either strength or steadiness is removed, the size of the instrument not 
being reduced thereby in any part. 



FRANKLIN INSTITUTE EEPOET. 23 

Second. The method of attaching the instrument to and detaching it from the tripod 
head is as follows: The upper parallel plate of the tripod head has two (2) fixed and 
one (1) movable lug on its upper surface. These three (3) lugs are placed equidistant 
from each other. There is also a flange on the exterior of the socket which encloses 
the centres. Three (3) recesses on the edge of this flange allow the flange itself to lie 
on the parallel plate and to enclose the lugs. The whole instrument is now turned 
until the lugs are outside of the recesses, and the whole is then clamped by the milled 
head-screw of the movable lug. By this process a three- (3) pointed clamp is obtained. 
A forked guide-piece fitting into a groove in the clamp-screw and traveling with it pre- 
vents its being screwed out and lost. 

Third. An examination of the instrument renders this third point so obvious as to 
require no explanation. 

Fourth. The tangent-screw is constructed so as to overcome all lost motion in the 
following manner : A long cylindrical nut has two-thirds of its screw-thread removed. 
In one-half of the recess thus formed is fitted a cylindrical follower, with a key which 
prevents its rotation, but permits it to move forward or back. A spiral spring is placed 
in the other half of the recess, the tension of which forces the fixed thread and follower 
in contrary directions. 

Fifth. The platina cross-wires (xoVty or " an i ncn in thickness, or as thin as ordinary 
spiders' web) prevent the sagging which the spiders' web undergoes from dampness. 
Not being transparent, they can be easily seen when sighting toward a light. This is 
an advantage when looking toward the sun, or when locating a meridian line by means 
of the North star. 

Sixth. A pair of right-angle sights is obtained in the following way : The slits in 
the clamps on the axis of the telescope are extended downward so as to reach almost 
to the bottom of the clamps, and in these slits the sighting-holes are made. The slits 
are then adjusted by the maker to cut a right angle, and index marks are then made on 
the clamps and standards. By bringing the index marks to coincide, an accurate sight 
at right angles to the telescope is had. 

Seventh. The curvatures and distances of the lenses composing the eye-piece are so 
arranged as to overcome all spherical and chromatic aberration in the telescope. The 
spherical aberration of the ordinary telescope has prevented satisfactory results from 
Stadia measurements. 

Eighth. The shifting tripod leg has a play of from three (3) to five (5) feet. It is 
composed of two (2) semi-circular cylinders, sliding one on the other on their plane 
surfaces, as in a levelling-rod, and clamping in any position. This leg dispenses with 
eccentrics, and will slide easily and clamp well, even if the wood of the halves be 
swollen or warped. 

Ninth. Having the tripod head and the cheeks for the legs in one piece prevents 
the possibility of any unsteadiness from the loosening of the cheeks from tightening 
the legs. 

Tenth. Pure plumbago is used as a lubricator for all the screws, preventing hard 
working in cold weather. 

The side adjustment on the standard, by which one end of the axis of the telescope 
may be raised or lowered in order to make the vertical hair lie in a vertical plane 
through the axis, and the nice balancing of the telescope upon its centre of gravity, are 
also noticed as very important features in engineers' transits. There is, however, no 
claim to, novelty in the application of these principles. 

The ribbing of the instrument is judiciously placed, and the metal of which all 
castings are made is 6e#, instead of the ordinary brass. The Committee see no reason 
why it should not keep its adjustments and maintain its steadiness at least as well as 
any other. To solve all doubts, however, on this subject, letters were addressed to two 
engineers who had been using the transits of Messrs. Heller & Brightly almost daily 
for six (6) mpnths. Both were engaged in operations requiring the best instruments — 
viz., one in city street locations, and one in axunnel nearly four thousand feet in length. 
The answers of both were satisfactory in the highest degree, pronouncing said instru- 
ments superior to any they had ever used. 

The substitution of platina wire for spiders' web was found to be especially advan- 
tageous in tunnel work, by contributing in an appreciable degree to the accuracy so 
necessary in that kind of work or in mining. 

In conclusion, the Commitlee express themselves highly pleased with the instru- 
ments of Messrs. Heller & Brightly, and consider it but a simple act of justice to these 
gentlemen to say that, in its opinion, the deviations which they have made from the 



24 FRANKLIN INSTITUTE REPORT. 

common styles of transit are decided improvements. It may not be amiss to add that 
their instruments cost no more than those of the ordinary style of our best makers. 

John C. Trautwine, Chairman. 
Charles S. Close, 
Lewis M. Houpt, 
Samuel L. Smedley, 
Ellwood Morris. 
By order of the Committee. 

D. !S. Holman, Actuary. 

The following are the two letters of inquiry referred to by the Franklin Insti- 
tute Committee in their report. The letters to which these are the answers had, 
among other inquiries, the following : — Is the instrument steady? Does it keep 
its adjustment? if not, how frequently has it been adjusted since you first re- 
ceived it? 

Burlington, N. J., October 28, 1871. 
Messrs. Heller & Brightly, Philadelphia: 

Gentlemen : — Your inquiries regarding the Transit purchased of you last 
spring is at hand. 

I am happy to say that when put to test of unremitting use for several months 
with constant and critical examination during the entire period for the discovery 
of faults that are ordinarily supposed to exist, I have not been able to detect 
anything amiss. 

Besides using the Transit for the customary purposes of a general practice, I 
have employed it in the careful reorganization and rectification of the Surveys 
of our city, and the preparation of a strictly accurate Atlas, similar to that which 
is in use in the Survey Department of Philadelphia ; and in two very essential 
respects I have found it superior to any other that I have ever known ;" 1 refer to 
stability and permanance of adjustment. 

I have frequently left it standing in one position for hours, and on my return 
found the telescope maintaining the same line with entire exactness ; and in point 
of adjustment, it is as correct and reliable to-day as it was after the searching ex- 
amination you gave it in my presence on the day of its delivery to me. 

The graduation of the plates is exceedingly accurate, and in that respect my 
Transit is superior to the majority of those in common use; in fact, the results 
obtained from its use have been such that, had they not been frequently re- 
peated with equal success, should have been attributed to chance. 

The needle, too, is excellent in all the essential particulars of straightness, 
correct centring and magnetic power. In perhaps a hundred readings of an- 
gles by the needle as compared with the readings of the vernier, in no one has 
the difference amounted to more than three minutes. 

I am yours, etc., H. S. Haines. 

Office of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, 

Nesquehoning Tunnel, Pa., November 1, 1871. 

Messrs. Heller & Brightly, Phila. : 

Dear Sir: — Your favor of 28th ult., inquiring about the instrument made for 
use on this work, is received. 

The instrument has proven entirely satisfactory in every respect ;— it is per- 
fectly steady— it keeps its adjustment admirably, it not having been touched in 
this "respect since it came from your shop, and is now perfectly correct. 

The platina hairs have never shown the least indication of sagging from the 
moisture of iuside work ; and they a^e the only hairs that we have not had 
trouble with in this respect; — the instrument has frequently been in the damp- 
ness of a Tunnel for hours at a time. . . . 

We were enabled to bring our lines together with your instrument with a lat- 
eral variation of 1£ inches in a Tunnel 3800 feet long. 

We have found another great advantage in the use of the platina: namely, 
that when the light is reflected on them by a lamp, instead of the indistinct line 
which the spider web gives, we have a clearly denned black mark. 

Yours, etc., Thos. C. Steele, Engineer. 



IMPROVED TELESCOPE. 25 

HELLER & BRIGHTLY'S IMPROVED TELESCOPE. 

(From the editorial columns of the U. S. Railroad and Mining Register, Jan. 10, 1874.) 



Improved Transit Telescope. 

Every improvement in engineering instruments is of consequence ; and the very 
great increase of power gained by Messrs. Heller & Brightly in their new telescope, as 
described in their letter and accompanying circulars given below, is of sufficient import- 
ance to attract the immediate attention of every engineer : 

Philadelphia, January 7, 1874. 
Editor U. S. R. R. and Mining Register : 

Dear Sir : — Having just brought to a successful conclusion a series of optical 
experiments, having for their object the increasing the power and range of the ordinary 
telescope, and knowing the interest you take in any improvement of field instruments, 
■we enclose you the results we have arrived at. An ordinary Transit Telescope, 10 
'inches long, magnifies 12 diameters; an ordinary Level Telescope, 17 inches long, 
magnifies 25 diameters. Without any increase of length, our new Transit Telescope 
magnifies 28, and the new Level 48 diameters — in other words, without any increase 
of length, we give the Transit Telescope more power than a regular Level Telescope 
has. We have lately furnished the Survey Department of Philadelphia with a Transit 
for use at the " new South Street Bridge," and the engineer in charge there has been 
making some tests of the power and range of the new telescope as compared with 
another very good telescope made in the ordinary way. A copy of his letter we enclose. 
While making the tests the instruments were placed side by side and seen through 
at the same time, in order that any atmospheric unfavorableness should affect both 
equally. We think, however, that the first test should read, "set a \ inch flag" (instead 
of f ), as the \ inch white space was the object sighted at, and the black only marking 
the boundaries of the white. As to the extreme range of the telescope, the enclosed 
extract from the Fairmount Park Engineers, may give some idea. Yours, &c, 

HELLER & BRIGHTLY, 33 North Seventh Street. 

[copy.] 
Engineers' Office, South Street Bridge, 
Philadelphia, December 22, 1873. 

Dear Mr. Heller : — I have just finished some very satisfactory tests of the new 
Transit you lately sent me— and knowing that a statement of the results would be as 
gratifying to you as it was to me, I send it to you in detail. The Transit with which 
I compared the power of yours, was made by "the late Wm. J. Young, for Strickland 
Kneass, Esq., when the latter was Chief Engineer and Surveyor of the city, the instru- 
ment is considered a very good one of its kind : 

„,..,. , , W. J. Young. Heller & Brightly. 

Set a flag, % inch wide, accurately 450 feet. 1,535 feet. 

Could just see hands on a watch— very dimly 212 feet. 1 231 feet 

Read time within one minute 180 feet. '983 feet! 

The "flag" test was on a target made of paper, with three \ inch stripes, two black 
and a centre one of white. This target was sent off until the white stripe was just 
barely discernible. The watch used was a " Tobias" make, If inch diameter of dial, 
face white, and hands l-50th of an inch wide at ends. On the first "watch" test, it 
was sent off until I could merely tell that there were hands on the dial. At the second 
test I read the time within about one minute. The length of telescope in the Young 
Transit is 10.8 inches, and in yours 10.7 inches when both are focussed on the same 
object. Yours, &c, D. M. STAUFFER. 

[extract.] 

Fairmotjnt Park, December 6, 1873. 
Messrs. Heller & Brightly :— At your request I tested the power and range of 
your new telescope. On account of the haziness of the atmosphere the day was 
unfavorable. As to range, from sights taken at Falls of Schuylkill in direction of 
Conshohocken, I could see and locate a flag staff at about seven miles. 

THOMAS G. JANVIER, 
Assistant Engineer, Fairmount Park. 



26 IMPROVED TELESCOPE. 

As the following letter from the editorial columns of the Railroad and Mining 
Register gives the manner by which we have increased the power of our Tele- 
scopes, we give it in full. It is in answer to a correspondent who, seeing the 
above article giving the comparative tests of our new Telescope as compared 
with an ordinary one, asks for information on some points mentioned in it that 
were not perfectly clear to him. 

First, not knowing the means by which we increased our power, he of course 
imagined that we used the old " regular formula," such as had been used and 
abandoned for high powers years ago ; inquiry is also made, whether the " Kneass 
Transit " was a fair sample of the ordinary Telescope ; and if the powers of the 
regular Telescope, as made at present, might not be sufficient for ordinary pur- 
poses. The correspondent was also under the impression that the magnifying 
power of an ordinary Telescope was somewhat higher than we had stated. The 
correspondent not taking into consideration that the day of trial was one of the 
shortest and darkest of the whole year (December 22), thought very naturally 
that the flag might have been seen at a greater distance than it was (1535 feet) ; 
seeing that time was read on a watch-dial at 983 feet. Mr. Stauffer's letter ex- 
plains this. 

(From the editorial columns of the " United States Railroad and Mining Register" for 
January 31, 1874.) 

To the Editor of the U. S. B. B. & Mining Begister : 

Dear Sir: — The correspondence in your issue of the 17th inst., criticising the tests 
and results of the trial of our "new Transit Telescope," calls for some notice from us. 
The complaint of want of power in the glasses of field instruments is no new thing; 
when Richard B. Osborne, Esq., some years since endeavored to introduce the American 
form of Transit into England, the want of power in the telescope was the principal 
objection urged against it (the European telescopes of the same length being much 
more powerful than those used in this country, from the fact that the " inverting " 
telescope is almost exclusively used there). Our Mr. Heller, who for fifteen years 
continuously was connected with the late Wm. J. Young in business (for a greater 
portion of it as a'partner, under the firm name of Wm. J. Young & Co.), and Wm. J. 
Young, were well aware of this want of power, and labored together for several years 
previous to Mr. Young's death to correct it, but without success, and up to the date of 
his decease (July, 1870), the formula for their telescopes was practically the same as 
had been used for at least fifteen years before. The "City Transit," with which our 
"improved Transit Telescope" was compared by Mr. Staufler, was known in their 
manufactory as "Kneass Transit," and was used by the city during his entire term ; 
and although the other parts of the instrument were somewhat worn, the telescope was 
considered good. To prove, however, if the telescope of the "Kneass" instrument 
was a fair sample of its class, we having in our establishment at the present time two 
Transits for repairs, that are of the make mentioned by your correspondent, but made 
within the last few years — the telescopes of these are respectively 11 and 12 inches 
long, and time was read on a watch similar to the one used in the last test at 195 and 
210 feet, showing that (taking the lengths of telescopes into consideration) they are 
not superior in power to the one with which Mr. Staufler experimented. As regards the 
statement of your correspondent in reference to the powers of Transit Telescopes of 
various modern makers, we would remark that one fact respecting telescopes must be 
taken into consideration (i. e., that the calculated magnifying power and their actual 
performance in the field are sometimes sadly at variance) ; we now have in our posses- 
sion for repairs a Transit made in New York City, the nominal magnifying power of 
which is 18 diameters, yet it is impossible (in consequence of its poor defining power) 
with it to set an ordinary flag-pole (accurately) at the distance of 300 feet. Although 
the " achromatic, compound lens," eye-piece of Kellner (or a similar combination), has 
been of late years adopted in Europe for fine telescopes, still from its great expense, 
and the objection of American engineers to an " inverting" telescope, it lias been com- 
paratively unknown here; the United States Coast Survey Department use it almost 
exclusively on all their new instruments. 

Your correspondent states that the same combination of lenses that is in the "im- 
proved telescope" was known "years and years ago;" we think he must be mistaken. 
Mr. Young and Mr. Heller, during their exhaustive experiments and researches re- 
ferred to above, knew nothing of it, and so lately did we bring our own experiments 



IMPROVED TELESCOPE. 27 

to a successful conclusion that, although we have lately (1872 and 1873) furnished the 
Survey Department of this city with Transits for the new bridges now in the course 
of erection over the Schuylkill at Girard Avenue, Fairmount and South Street, none 
except the last has the new telescope — in fact, so very recently have we ourselves 
adopted it that, although we receive orders from the University of Pennsylvania to 
spare no expense or pains to make the equipment of field instruments for the new De- 
partment of Science as perfect as possible, we did not insert it in their field instru- 
ments. In referring to Transit Telescopes, we of course mean such as are in common 
use by engineers, from 10 to 12 inches long, capable of reversing their standards 
both at eye and object ends, and showing objects erect, instead of inverted — those for 
special purposes of extra power and length (we have made them 20 inches long) and 
with "inverting" telescopes, we do not class as ordinary ones. We have never made 
any secret of the mode by which we increase the power of our telescopes. The im- 
provement consists in our availing ourselves of the formula of Kellner, with the addi- 
tion in our telescopes of the two entra lenses necessary for producing an erect image. 
If your correspondent will do us the pleasure to call on us, we shall be happy to 
show him the numerous experiments we have made, and the results ; he can also ex- 
amine the two instruments mentioned above at any time. If we have caused any en- 
gineer to think seriously on a subject which he has heretofore taken mainly on trust 
(i. e., the power of his telescope), he will find the subject repay investigation. If en- 
gineers will call on us, we will with pleasure show them the new telescope and let them 
judge for themselves; or if a committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers 
(or any kindred body) would like to make a thorough trial, we will furnish them with 
the means. As to the remarks of your correspondent denying the desirability of an 
increase of power, we think that the majority of engineers differ from him in opinion, 
and any one who has stood with watering eyes endeavoring to accurately set a flag at a 
moderate distance, will agree with us that a Transit Telescope with the power of a 
Level Telescope is a gain, and that the opinion of such men as John C. Trautwine, 
Eckley B. Coxe, Richard B. Osborne and R. P. Rothwell, that the new telescope is "a 
most important and useful improvement," is entitled to some weight. If it were not 
against our rule to publish correspondence, we could give letters from parties of weight 
in the engineering profession which would, more strongly than anything we could say, 
corroborate what we have written — in fact, we have obeyed our repugnance so far that 
we have for two years refrained from publishing an exhaustive report of a committee 
of civil engineers appointed to examine the new Transit which we introduced at that 
time, although the favorable opinion of such men as John C. Trautwine, Elwood 
Morris, L. M. Haupt, Samuel L. Smedley and Charles S. Close might be thought of 
some value. In conclusion, we are sorry that a friendly private letter, giving you in- 
formation that might interest you, and not intended for publication, but which you 
thought contained matter of interest sufficient to warrant publishing, should have 
caused your correspondent's letter. In the hands of the engineers we now leave the 
matter; if we have made an improvement, it will speak for itself. We merely repeat 
our invitation to engineers, instrument makers, etc., who feel desirous to test this matter 
for themselves to call upon us; we will freely communicate to such any information in 
our possession. Yours, etc., 

HELLER & BRIGHTLY, 33 North Seventh Street. 

January 22, 1874. 

Engineers' Office, South Street Bridge, 

Philadelphia, January 22, 1874. 
To the Editor of the U. S. R. R. & Mining Register : 

Dear Sir: — A word of explanation may be necessary to explain away a seeming 
discrepancy pointed out by your correspondent of January 17th, in his criticism on the 
performance of Mr. Heller's New Telescope, lately tested by me. The test results 
were communicated to Mr. Heller in a friendly letter, not intended for publication, or 
I should have been more explicit in my explanation. The Transits were tested side by 
side, and at the same time, so that any local influence would have been felt by both. 
But the first test was made on the flag about 9 A. M., with the sun obscured by clouds, 
and in an atmosphere decidedly hazy, with the flag located in a depression of South Street, 
the worst point for an observation. The watch test was made more than three hours 
after, when the sun was shining brightly and all haziness removed ; had I then again 
tried the flag, I have no doubt the results would have been more favorable than stated. 
Youre, etc., D. M. STAUFFER. 



28 STROLL THROUGH ENGINEERS' INSTRUMENT MANUFACTORY. 



STROLL THROUGH AN ENGINEERS' INSTRUMENT 
MANUFACTORY. 



Having recently visited some of the establishments of our "Engineering and 
Surveying Instrument Makers," we became possessed of some facts which may be 
of interest to general readers, and also showing the immense development of this 
branch of industry since the early days when the. Drapers, Rittenhouses and 
Stancliftes gave to Philadelphia mechanics their pre-eminence in the manufac- 
ture of these " instruments of precision." 

But the staid plodding artisans of those days would be amazed if they could 
see the revolution that time has made in the details of their whilom business — 
the intricate machinery (one of the old establishments, with all its tools, not 
costing as much as one first class modern lathe with all its appurtenances), the 
appliance of steam, graduating engines, and the vast range it has taken in its 
various details. 

On our list we will first take the well-known establishment of the Messrs. 
Heller & Brightly, and from them and their books have gleaned the facts for 
the following article. 

The first thing to forcibly strike the stranger's attention is the widespreading 
ramification of an establishment of reputation — in looking over their "order 
book," we found every State from Maine to Florida represented, and the Survey 
Department of almost every important city and town (the Middle and Western 
States predominating, however). 

Orders from Japan, China, Chili, Peru, Brazil and Canada jostle each other; 
the order of Arinori Mori, the Japanese ambassador, for a complete set of field 
instruments for the " Kaitakuski of Hokaido" (whatever that may mean) stands 
side by side with those of the "Survey Department of Philadelphia" — Meigs, 
the railroad king of South America— the University of Pennsylvania — and the 
Centennial Building Commission — and we were shown with commendable pride 
a "cable telegram" order for a Transit from Hong-Kong, China, which ran thus: 
"One Heller, Philadelphia, send Transit Instrument like General Capron's." 

The greater part of their business, like that of the majority of those in the 
same line, is however with the railroads ; and this need not be a surprise to any 
one, the Pennsylvania Railroad and its numerous branches alone using up enough 
instruments, to keep a respectable sized manufactory constantly employed. 

The Survey Departments of cities must also be constant consumers, judging 
from the fact that that of Philadelphia alone ordered 8 instruments within the 
last two years. 

We were curious to learn if, in sending their wares to every point of the 
compass in this manner, whether they ever had trouble in receiving the money 
for the same ; and for the character of the Civil Engineers as a class, we were 
proud to hear that they have yet to make- the first bad debt. 

Great confidence must exist between the producer and consumer, for assuredly 
in no other business would valuable goods be sent to a perfect stranger thou- 
sands of miles away on the faith of a telegram (as happened on the day of one of 
our visits) worded thus — " Send Transit to lay out town site to , Arizona." 

An instance of the credulity of human nature, and the tenacity with which a 
pouplar belief will descend from generation to generation, we learned here that 
somewhat surprised us. 

A letter from Massachusetts received a few days before was shown us — the 
writer wished to be informed whether a "divining rod" "needle" or "treasure 
sand" — that would be attracted by hidden gold, silver or gems in the earth, in 
the same manner as the magnetic needle is attracted by iron — could not be pur- 
chased by him. 

On our expressing surprise that in the present age of enlightenment a belief 
in such an article should exist, we were informed that this letter was one of a 



STROLL THROUGH ENGINEERS' INSTRUMENT MANUFACTORY. 29 

class. That from 12 to 40 letters or calls were received yearly — the majority of 
them however were received from parties on the Atlantic coast, from Maine to 
New York north, and from Maryland to Florida south, and the treasures to be 
found were those said to have been buried by the piratical Captain Kyd (he 
who "sailed, sailed"). 

Besides these " treasure seekers," calls are received in more or less numbers 
every year for the "witch hazel divining rod" (for discovering hidden springs 
by divination). 

The " perpetual motion " inventors have also not " perished from off the face 
of the earth," judging from the number of models that are sent to Messrs. Heller 
& Brightly for their opinion, each of which (according to the inventor) solves 
the long mooted problem. 

Solomon's axiom of there being " nothing new under the sun," and the per- 
sistency with which an idea will crop out in one generation, die away and seem- 
ingly be rediscovered in another, only to meet the same fate, was shown to us in 
the model of a "distance measurer" that had shortly before been received — and 
which the inventor thought was entirely original, and his fortune of course 
secured. Those who have delved in the old volumes of the various mechanics' 
magazines — the proceedings of the various scientific societies — or the back num- 
bers of the patent office reports, may recollect the "Monsieur Tonson" that was 
ever turning up, in the shape of a " distance measurer" (an instrument by means 
of which the distance of any far object could be ascertained without the tedious 
process of chaining), in which, though the details might have been varied, the 
principle underlying them all was the same (i. e., a fixed Telescope or vane sights 
placed at right angles to, and at one end of a base more or less long, generally 
from 2 to 3 feet, a second Telescope movable along this base, and this Telescope 
slightly inclined toward the first one — the movable Telescope being slid along 
the base until the line of sight of both it and the fixed one cut the same object. 
The distance of the object from the instrument being then read off from a scale 
on the base). This same instrument in various forms is as old as Archimedes 
at least. The fatal defect of the instrument is that the base necessarily being 
short, and the angle formed by the two Telescopes consequently being too acute 
for accuracy. During the late war we were informed that at least thirty applica- 
tions for patents had been made for an instrument of this class, all having the 
above idea, and each patentee imagining himself the original discoverer. 

Knowing from experience how very poorly, some twenty years ago, the in- 
stitutions that made a specialty of teaching Civil Engineering were supplied 
with field instruments, and the inferior character of those they did have, we were 
curious to know whether this state of affairs continued, and were most agreeably 
surprised at the change we found. 

The "order book" was again brought in requisition to answer our queries. 
First, our attention was directed to the list of instruments and their character 
furnished the new "Department of Science " of the venerable University of 
Pennsylvania. 

Besides the usual Transits, Levels, Compasses, Sextants — we found such com- 
paratively modern costly "instruments of precision" as the Solar Transit, 
Plane Table, etc., — in fact, the sum total of their outlay for instruments alone 
would have appalled some of the other institutions ; and the orders for field in- 
struments from colleges situated where twenty years back naught but forests 
flourished — was a striking proof of the tremendous strides the country has 
made since then. 

En passant, we were somewhat amused during one of our visits. A graduate of 
a so-called "college," having received a situation on a railroad, came to purchase 
a Transit Instrument. — One was shown him such as is used for city work. The 
vernier reading of the horizontal limb, however, was not close enough for him — 
half minutes being entirely too inexact, and nothing but a ten second (10 // ) sub- 
division answering. — His dogmatical assertions that a half minute (30 // ) reading 
mightanswer for common work, such as running a straight line or turning a right 
angle, but not for deflecting for railroad surveys, was amusing ; as was also 
his blank look of astonishment and doubt when informed that two of the most 



30 MODERN PRACTICE IN RAILROAD SURVEYS. 

difficult of his field operations, would be those very two that he treated so 
cavalierly, (namely, turning, a precise right angle and establishing a straight 
line). 

We were informed, in answer to queries, that the most elaborate and accurate 
instruments, without regard to cost, were demanded, as a general rule, by the 
Mining Engineers of Lake Superior. — These were followed by the Survey De- 
partments of the various cities — the Mining Engineers of Colorado, California 
and this State came next. 

Judging,- however, from the minuteness of detail and seeming disregard as to 
cost of some orders on their books from Engineers who have made Bridge 
Building and Tunnelling a specialty, the precision requisite for such work must 
require the best instruments. 

To the curious spectator the several details of the manufacture — the graduat- 
ing engines — the patient exactness required of the workmen (one of their 
proverbs being that Job would most assuredly have lost his patience, had he be- 
longed to their craft) — are matters of surprise, and where in the finished instrument 
all the parts he had seen in detail could be placed would perplex him (a complete 
Engineer's Transit with all its belongings numbering 3(32 separate parts). 

To an engineer, who, knowing the longevity of a Transit, and the compara- 
tively small class by whom they are used, and seeing the number of instruments 
turned out of an establishment of this class — they just finishing at the time of 
our visit 50 Transits, and commencing 100 more — knowing that this process was 
continued through the entire year, and that this was only one of numerous simi- 
lar establishments — the one absorbing question to him would be (as it was to us), 
What becomes of all the Transits ? — and the answer to which would be as hard 
to give as to the other equally celebrated one, " What becomes of all the pins?" 
— {Engineer, March, 1874.) 



MODERN PRACTICE OF FIELD-WORK IN RAILROAD SURVEYS, 
BY RICHARD B. OSBORNE, CIVIL ENGINEER. 

Girard Housk, October G, 1873. 
Mr. Charles S. Heller, Philadelphla : 

Dear Sir: — You have asked me to state in what I consider your improved 
Transit with its vertical arc superior as a field instrument to the ordinary plain 
field Transit. 

When an Engineer is entrusted with the location of a railroad, his first in- 
quiry should be, — what is it intended to transport? and having learned the quan- 
tity and quality of traffic each way, and made a reconnoissance of the general 
route, and ascertained the impediments to be overcome in the location of the 
line, he can at once determine on the ruling gradient and a maximum load for a 
given weight of Engine. 

He will find, perhaps, that a part of the line will be over gently undulating 
ground, while other parts will be through a mountainous country. 

According to the length of time through these different kinds of land, the 
number of Transits of each description required can be obtained. 

For the first, or easy country, the plain Transit is the best, as a little more 
portable and less costly. 

For the mountains, none- but the Transit with its fine improved telescope and 
vertical arc should be chosen. 

Experience has taught me that the most economic, accurate, expeditious and 
successful work is done when well-tried principles and systematic plans control 
the operations. " Rule-of-thumb" work seldom succeeds ; the good results even 
in close Engineering work have been attained by a bold dash based only on clear 
judgment — clear, I mean, to the mind using it. 

The old system of "trial and error" lines is unfit for our profession now; we 



MODERN PRACTICE IN RAILROAD SURVEYS. 31 

have taught the whole world all they know about location of railroads, and we 
should advance. 

When the Engineer, either by the barometer or by " flying levels," approxi- 
mately ascertains the elevations of the highest summits he has to overcome, as 
well as the distances (the other elements for making out his grades), he can de- 
termine on the mling gradient, which will then determine his maximum load. 

Experience should teach us that it is inexpedient, if not wrong, as a general 
rule, to spend large sums of money to reduce gradients at other points of the line 
below the ruling gradient, because it will not financially benefit the working 
capabilities of the Engines, whose maximum load is already controlled. 

With such fixed data in his mind, the Engineer can view in a ride the easy 
country, where a line generally can be at once located, without any experimental 
survey, by the eye and judgment, because the grades, being all less than the 
ruling grade over the mountains, can have the grades fitted to the country over 
which tbe maximum loads can be taken. 

For such work the plain Transit is best adapted. 

But in a country which presents mountain ranges that must be crossed, the 
case is wholly different. 

Each ridge should be explored, and the elevation of its lowest available summit 
obtained, also the distances by time, or the pedometer, and thus the required 
gradient be worked out. 

Then the Transit with its vertical arc is indispensable. 

Its utility consists in perfecting with one experimen^l line, which it vividly 

foints out by its valuable adjunct, the vertical arc, the exact position of the 
est location that can be made on the ground of uniform grade, with the least 
work. By it the exact profile of a located line can be had, on which I have 
even let work to contractors before the field location was made. 

Hundreds of thousands of dollars would have been saved, if this had been in 
use in the last twenty years, the work too would have been better done, and trains 
would be able to mount to many summits with more ease than they now do. 

Here is the modus operandi in explanation, and Engineers who keep the old 
method will see that mountain surveys, which are tedious and laborious, are thus 
made easy and agreeable. 

The Engineer, knowing then the average grade that will carry the line to 
the summit with a given cutting at that point, sets, before starting, his vertical 
arc to the angle corresponding to said grade. 

A flag on a pole the height of the Transit Telescope from the ground is taken 
ahead by the Engineer in charge, as far as he can be seen by the Transit, and with 
his judgment aided by the pocket level he gets approximately in position, so that 
all clearing can be done while the Transit is moving up and getting set on last 
transfer-point. 

The Transit then sets the grade flag accurately, and the chaining is done to the 
grade flag, when the exact transfer point is set, which is grade. 

On this the Transit moves, and thus continues till the summit is reached by a 
true grade line. 

Cross sections with the clynometer are taken at every 100 feet station, well to 
right and left, where the angles are great, when that portion of the line is ready 
for plotting, on which the located line can be planned, the centres being all at 
grade. 

The line can be straightened, curves introduced — profile made out, and in the 
office a tale will be fully told of all the characteristics of the future location. 

Thus two quickly run lines will fit the contour of the mountain, with work just 
as light or heavy as the Engineer may select to give him the best line that can 
be put on the ground. 

But in other ways the Transit arc is of great use. 

Here is one example : 

To test a line advancing toward a high summit when 8 miles from it, I once 
had a flying level run from the summit to a point at the foot of a tall pine 5 miles 
from the summit. 

I converted this tall pine, by the vertical arc, into a levelling staff, and using it 



32 NEW MINING TRANSIT AND PLUMMET LAMP. 

as a back rod, transferred' the level to the mountain side, high over the valley, 
where I fixed a point which the advancing line should puss through, so as to 
reach the summit with a fixed cutting thereat and on the ruling grade. 

It worked to a charm, and my grade came out to a nicety. 

I would as soon send a party into the field without a chain under such circum- 
stances as I would without a Transit with your vertical arc. 

These are its uses in survey work. 

In construction it is a most desirable instrument, as the assistant needs but one 
instrument, which is both Transit and Level, which is a great desideratum. 
I am, yours truly, Richard B. Osborne. 



ON A NEW MINING TRANSIT AND PLUMMET LAMP. 

(From Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine for June, 1873.) 

A communication to the American Institute of Mining Engineers, at the Boston 
meeting, February 19, 1873, by Prof. B. W. Raymond, President of the Institute: 

Having had recently the opportunity of examining a Transit and a Plummet Lamp, 
manufactured by Messrs. Heller & Brightly, of Philadelphia, and intended for the use 
of mining engineers in underground surveying, I thought a description of them would 
be interesting to such of our members as have work of that kind to do, and accord- 
ingly I requested the makers to prepare and send to me a detailed account. There is 
nothing specially novel, I may remark, in the construction of the Transit; its claims 
to favor must rest upon its compactness and lightness, together with the general excel- 
lence of its workmanship. The principal peculiarity is the ribbing and flanging of 
the parts requiring strength, so as to dispose the minimum amount of material where 
it will secure the greatest rigidity. This Transit is said to be the lightest of American- 
make. I believe Caselli has sent some from London which are still lighter; but they 
are perhaps not so completely furnished for field-work. I confess I do not see how the 
weight can well be reduced any further, unless an instrument can be made of aluminium 
— a plan which Mr. Bothwell once suggested ; but which may not, perhaps, be entirely 
practicable, and, at any rate, has not been tried. 

The following is the manufacturers' description of this Transit, which they have 
designed and introduced within the last year: 

It is a small portable angle instrument, similar in principle to the ordinary " Engi- 
neer's Transit," and a fac simile in every respect (excepting size and weight) of their 
"complete Engineer's Transit." It has long compound centres; the horizontal limb is 
read by two double opposite verniers, placed outside the compass box; the vernier 
openings in the plate being made very wide, so as to allow the easy reading of the 
graduations. There is a three inch magnetic needle, and its ring is divided to half 
degrees. The telescope is 7^- inches long, with object glass fifteen-sixteenths inch in 
aperture, and shows objects erect and not inverted. A sensitive level, 4J inches long, is 
attached to the telescope, for reading angles of elevation and depression, levelling, etc. 
The tripod is furnished with an adjustable head for precise plumbing of the instrument 
over a centre ; and the wooden legs of the tripod are made in such a manner as to 
form one leg when folded together. The plates, vertical circle, etc., are provided with 
clamps and tangent-screw movements; and the clamps on the axis of the telescope 
are arranged with sighting slits and indexes, so as to answer also for right angle sights. 
The numbering of the compass ring and horizontal limb, instead of being in quadrants 
from 0° to 90° each way as usual, is a continuous one, or from 0° to 360°; but every 
quadrant of the horizontal limb is also marked with its magnetic bearing, i. e. from 
0° N. to 90° E., every ten degrees is marked N. E — from 90° E. to 180° S.. every ten 
degrees is marked S. E., etc. The advantage of this arrangement is, that, if at start- 
ing, the vernier of the horizontal limb be set to read the same bearing as the needle, 
the needle can be screwed up, and both the angles and magnetic bearings read from the 
horizontal limb, without using the needle for the remainder of the survey, thus precluding 
any error from local attraction, reading from the wrong end of the needle, or loss of 
time in waiting for the needle to settle. The telescope, though short, is a very power- 
ful one, magnifying and having the clearness of an ordinary 17-inch level telescope. 



THE PLUMMET LAMP IN UNDERGROUND SURVEYING. 33 

A reflector for illuminating the cross wires in dark places is* used, as is also an extension 
tripod leg for lowering or raising the instrument. All the working parts of the needle- 
lifter, clamp and tangent screw movement are concealed between the plates, making 
the instrument more compact. A prism and tube for attaching to the eye-piece of the 
telescope, for sighting vertically in shafts, is also furnished. The weight of the instru- 
ment, exclusive of the tripod, is about 5£ pounds ; the weight of the tripod is 3i 
pounds^ the height of the instrument from the tripod legs is 7 inches; the extreme 
diameter of plates, 5 inches; the diameter of the horizontal plate at the point where 
verniers and graduations meet, 4o inches. The instrument and tripod head are packed 
in a box 7^ inches square, arranged with straps to allow its being carried over the 
shoulder in the same manner as an army oflicer's field glass, while the folded tripod legs 
answer as a cane. Though these instruments have been specially designed for mining 
use, yet from their lightness and compactness they are also meeting with favor for 
geological surveys, and for preliminary railroad reconnoissances ; when used for these 
purposes, an extra pair of hairs for stadia purposes (i. e. measuring distances without 
chaining), besides the ordinary cross-hairs, is added. 

The same manufacturers make a very convenient Plummet Lamp, for underground 
work. It consists of a brass lamp, suspended by two chains, and terminated below in 
a conical plummet. The so-called compensating ring is an equatorial ring, surround- 
ing and supporting the lamp, which swings freely within it, upon an axis. The two 
chains are attached to this ring at the extremities of a diameter perpendicular to the 
axis. By means of this arrangement, the point of suspension, centre of lamp flame, 
and steel point of plummet always lie in a true vertical line, no matter how much the 
brass supporting chains may alter in length from the heating of the Lamp, kinking or 
wearing of the links. A shield at the top prevents the flame from burning the string. 
These Lamps are generally used in pairs for back and forward sights. 

I understand that Mr. McNair of Hazleton and Mr. Coxe of Drifton, both members 
of this Institute, have used this instrument with satisfactory results. 



USE OF THE PLUMMET LAMP IN UNDERGROUND SURVEYING. 

(From Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine for July, 1873.) 

A paper, read at the Boston meeting of the American Institute of the Mining Engi- 
neers, February 19, 1873, by Eckley B. Coxe : 

In the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania the custom has been to sight either at 
an open light (generally a mine lamp), or at the string of a plumb-bob. If the station 
was intended to be a permanent one, a spud, as it is called, that is, a nail resembling a 
horse shoe nail, with a hole in the head, is driven into the timbers over the station, or, 
if there be no timber, a hole is drilled in the coal or rock roof into which a wooden 
plug is driven, which serves to hold the spud. 

The first operation in making a survey, is to lay out the stations, that is, to mark the 
place where the holes are to be drilled for the points on the timbers where the spuds 
are to be driven in. This should be done before any instrumental work is begun, as 
much labor can generally be spared and the use of very short sights can often be 
avoided, by carefully laying out the stations beforehand. When the stations were 
laid out, a plumb-bob was hung from the innermost spud, which I will call No. 1, the 
instrument was put in position at No. 2, by plumbing down and putting a centre pin 
under the spud, and then setting up over the centre pin, and another plumb-bob was 
suspended from No. 3. If great accuracy was not required, a mine lamp was set up 
under the plumb-bobs at No. 1 and No. 3, and the engineer sighted at them. If great 
accuracy was required, a lamp or some white surface was held by an assistant behind 
the strings of the plumb-bobs. To work with any speed by the latter method (i. e., 
the accurate one), it was necessary for the engineer to have three assistants on whom 
he could rely, even when the chaining was done afterwards, viz. : one to hold the light 
behind the string at No. 1, one at No. 3, and an assistant at the instrument to hold 
the light while levelling, reading the instrument, etc. When using lamps on the 
ground, it is necessary to examine them from time to time to see that they have not 
sunk in the mud or turned on one side, etc. ; besides, the flame of a mine lamp is a 



34 THE PLUMMET LAMP IN UNDERGROUND SURVEYING. 

very large object to sight at, and sometimes it is impossible to see it on the ground 
(when it can be well seen two or three feet above it), in consequence of some inter- 
vening obstacles. Being so situated that it was necessary for me to do a certain 
amount of accurate work, where I could not rely upon having more than one compe- 
tent assistant, I had the plumb-bob lamps constructed, and 1 work with them with a 
single assistant in the following manner: 

When the stations have been laid out, I go to station No. 2 with the Transit, and by 
means of the plumb-bob belonging to the instrument, I place the centre pin, (a small 
block of lead with a steel pin in it,) precisely under the spud No. 2; I then remove 
the plumb-bob and set up my instrument. While I am doing this, my assistant takes 
the two lamps, suspends one from spud No. 1, and the other from spud No. 3, and then 
comes back to hold the light for me while I make the final adjustments and take the 
readings. My instrument is graduated to 360°, and has two verniers 180° apart. I 
set the vernier at zero, and sight backwards to lamp No. 1. The flame is very 
small and has a blue central cone which I bisect. I then read the compass needle, 
invert the telescope, deflect and sight at No. 3, and read both verniers and the needle. 
I then turn the telescope back, sight upon No. 1, and turn the vernier plate round 
nearly 180° until I sight No. 3, and again read both verniers. I obtain thus four 
readings of the deflection from the vernier, and a compass reading as a check, and, as 
the lights are steady and small, the readings can be made very accurately and quickly. 
If the four readings agree (with their difference of 180°), I am sure there is no mis- 
take and go on. I then take up my Transit, go to No. 3, run down the lamp to near 
the ground, put my centre pin under it, remove the lamp and begin to set up. 

In the meantime, the assistant brings the lamp from No. 1 to No. 2, and then takes 
the lamp from No. 3 to No. 4, and comes back to No. 3 to assist me at the reading of 
the instrument. The work goes on in this way until all the angles are measured. I 
then go back and chain the distance from one station to another, and take notes of the 
workings, etc. In this way, two persons can make a very accurate survey as quickly 
as three can by the old method. Of course if one has assistants enough the chaining 
can go on with the instrumental work.* 

* This paper of Mr. Coxe's and the preceding paper of Prof. Raymond's were also repub- 
lished in the Engineering and Mining Journal, U. S. Railroad and Mining Register, Western 
Mining Review, and in the Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. 



Work has been commenced on the Centennial Building, in Philadelphia. 
Within two days after his appointment, the engineer in charge had already 
broken ground. The engineers' instruments used in the surveys are of the most 
approved make, and are furnished by Messrs. Heller & Brightly, Philadelphia. 
The. Telescopes on the transits and levels, made by this firm, are much superior 
to the old-style instruments we have been accustomed to. — From the Engineering 
and Mining Journal, New York, February 14, 1874. 



Lesley's micrometer for field-note plotting. 35 

(From the United States Railroad and Mining Register, June 28, 1873.) 
LESLEY'S MICROMETER FOR FIELD-NOTE PLOTTING. 

Read before the American Philosophical Society, April 18, 1873. 

I desire to place on record in the proceedings of the Society a description of my 
Micrometer for plotting field-notes, which appears to be coming into favor with Civil 
and Mining Engineers. 

It was many years ago that the need of such a little instrument forced itself on my 
attention, as a substitute for a vernier attachment to a scale for use on the office-table. 
The strain upon the eyes in constant plotting on small scales, say on the common scale 
of 1000 feet to the inch, or the not uncommon one of 2000, is greater than the best 
human organs of vision can endure without permanent injury, to say nothing of the 
loss of time involved in adjusting the dividers, or applying the paper edge, if a paper 
scale be used directly. Every field worker who has constructed elaborate contour line 
maps covering an extensive region of country will bear me out in this assertion. 

Considering also the liability to error in counting the decimals and hundredths or 
thousandths of the scale-unit of distances, after hours of application to work has lowered 
the tone of the nervous system, T sought some mechanical substitute analogous to Mr. 
Cleaver's Protractor, now in almost universal use for plotting courses with ease and 
precision. 

Many forms of such an instrument passed through my mind, but over-occupation, or 
perhaps laziness, prevented me from taking the necessary steps to realize the idea in 
even tentative forms, although I spoke of it several times to Mr. Young, the accom- 
plished and experienced instrument maker of Philadelphia, now dead. 

During my wanderings in Europe in search of health in 1866, 1867, and 1868, T was 
several times the guest of my old friend and fellow-laborer in the Anthracite coal fields 
(1853), Prof. Edouard Desor, at his charming residences on the Combe Varin and in 
Neufchatel, Switzerland. One day we strolled into the well-known philosophical in- 
strument manufactory of Mr. Hipp, to whom, among other things, I mentioned the 
need of a Micrometer Divider for plotting, and drew at his request three of its pos- 
sible forms, such as seemed to me the most feasible, giving him an order for one, and 
leaving him to select the form he preferred. 

_ On my return to Philadelphia in the spring of 1868 I received it in a broken condi- 
tion. The chain had been snapped by some custom house official, too curious to learn 
its nature to treat it with much delicacy of handling. It was, however, easily repaired, 
and I found it all I could desire: handy, accurate in its action, and perfectly relieving 
the eyes from the strain of measuring. * * * The original was in constant use bv one 
of my assistants in my office throughout the spring and summer of 1872. When the 
course of instruction in the Department of Science of the University of Pennsylvania 
commenced last fall, I accustomed my special geological students to use this instrument 
among others, and ordered of Heller & Brightly, instrument makers, a duplicate of it, 
set, however, not to centimeters and millimeters, but to inches and hundredths of an 
inch. While making it, Mr. Eckley Coxe and other civil and mining engineers saw 
it, and ordered others like it for their own use, and these orders have become so 
numerous that it has evidently taken its place among the accepted apparatus of the 
engineer's office-table. I hope many will in future enjoy the relief and comfort from 
it which I have enjoyed since 1868. 

I was urged to patent it, as Mr. Cleaver patented his Protractor. But I feel a natural 
prejudice against patenting a little thing which may become to some extent a public 
benefit, at all events within the not altogether narrow limits of one of the scientific 
professions. I desire, however, to prevent any one else from hampering its progress by 
a patent, and to that end beg leave to place this record of its invention among the pro- 
ceedings of this Society. Any one can obtain the instrument free of patent royalty, 
from the makers above named, or may order it made for themselves anywhere else. 

This Micrometer consists of an arc set with three, four or more needle-points fixed 
at intervals of one centimeter, one-half inch, or any other unit adopted for the survey, 
equivalent say to 100 feet (yards, links, rods. etc.). . 

A handle projects upward from the inside of the arc by which to hold it, and by 
which it may be applied to the line of course and be gently rotated, so that each 
needle-point in its turn pricks its (100 feet) unit distance along the line. 

Between the last two needle-points fi\at.-; a supernumerary needle-point or compass- 



36 Lesley's micrometer. 

leg, jointed high up on the handle, and swung or floated to and fro by a simple ratchet 
and watch chain, turned at will by means of a button, projecting from the centre of a 
circular disc on the handle; the disc circle being divided into hundredths (thousandths, 
etc.), and traversed by an index which starts from and comes round to a stop at zero. 

While the index travels over the disc from to 100 the supernumerary needle-point 
travels from needle-point to needle-point, one unit. 

Example of use : Suppose a distance 327 feet to be laid off on a course ; the fifth 
needle is applied to the station (point of tangent, or point of curve) and the arc rotated, 
so that the fourth needle pricks 100, the third 200, the second 300 feet. Then, the index 
being brought to 27, the floating needle pricks 327. 

Mr. Eckley Coxe has had a useful addition made to his instruments in the shape of 
a set of removable rings, divided for lOOths, lOOOths, 66ths, 33ds, etc., etc. Two little 
screws hold the ring in place, whichever one may be in request for any particular plot- 
ting. "When plotting on the scale of some other unit of distance is required, another 
ring is substituted. 



[COPY.] 



Philadelphia, Oct. 21, 1873. 
530 North Sixth St. 

Walter Shanly, Esq., Hoosac Tunnel 

Bear Sir : — At Mr. Heller's request I drop you this note, to say 
that I have examined his improved Telescope, and that it is really a 
most important and useful affair. I could scarcely believe my eyes 
when I first saw for myself the extraordinary power of his instruments. 
I add on my own responsibility that I consider the engineering instru- 
ments of Messrs. Heller & Brightly superior, by far, to any others that 
are made. 

They need, however, to be seen and used before such a sweeping re- 
mark can be fully realized. 

In haste, 

Yours, very truly, 

John C. Traittwine. 



INFORMATION TO PURCHASERS. 



As we have only one grade of goods, and one price, and never deviate from 
either, it is not absolutely necessary for parties to apply to us in person, for the 
purpose of purchasing or selecting any of our instruments. 

The modern system of Express Agencies is now so complete as to have their 
agents at every important point in the United States and British America, and 
these agents in their turn forwarding by stage, etc., to places where there is no 
Express agency. This Express system renders it safer and more expeditious at 
the present day to send goods one thousand miles than to have sent them thirty 
miles away twenty years since. 

As to the good condition and safety of the instruments that may be trans- 
ported by express ; — We pack in such a manner, and make such provision for 
their safe transportation, that we guarantee the good condition of the instruments 
on their arrival at their place of destination, after being forwarded by express ; 
and hold the express company liable to us for all loss or damage that may be 
incurred on the way. 

It is perhaps unnecessary to say that we warrant the instruments, in all their 
parts, to be made of good material and of good workmanship, and with no 
original defects. 

In ordering instruments, all that is necessary, is to write or telegraph to us 
the kind of instrument desired, and we will forward by Express, (unless a differ- 
ent method be desired). In giving the address to where the articles are to be 
forwarded, be careful to give the County as well as the State, thus : Send 

" Combined Transit and Levelling Instrument," price , and the following 

extras, , , by express, to Wm. Andrews, Civil Engineer, 

Linden, 

Cass County, 

Texas, 
as in some States there are several Express stations of the same name. 

As there are three Chicagos, three Cincinnatis, six Philadelphias, etc., in the 
United States, and each of them in a different State, it is best to always do this, 
even if the articles are to be sent to a large city. 

Terms of payment are uniformly cash, and any of the following methods can 
be adopted : remitting to us a draft on any banker or broker, in this or any east- 
ern city; or a "post-office money-order." The best method is however by the 
Express C. 0. D. system (collect on delivery). That is, the party ordering, pay- 
ing the amount of our bill to the Express Agent on receipt of the goods. 

Although we have our own standard and approved patterns, if any change 
in the style of the instrument, graduations, or numbering of the degrees be 
desired, we can do it. 



HOW TO SEND INSTRUMENTS FOR REPAIRS. 

In sending instruments of our own, or any other makes, to us for repairs, it 
is only necessary to place them in their own boxes, fill the box with some elastic 
material, such as paper, rags, etc. Place this in a packing-box at least an inch 
largerin its dimensions than the instrument box, and fill the space between the 
two with shavings, straw, hay, etc. Mark on the box simply Heller & Brightly, 
Mathematical Instrument Makers, Philadelphia, Penna. Send it to us by 
express, and get at the same time from the agent two receipts ; keep one, and 
forward the duplicate to us. Send by mail at the same time, a letter to us giv- 
ing the items as to what repairs are needed and the time when the instrument is 
again required ; and place a duplicate of this letter in the box with the instru- 

37 



38 INFORMATION TO PURCHASERS. 

merit. If the Express charges to Philadelphia are prepaid by the sender (which 
is optional), it will be so stated in the receipt before mentioned. 

Our charge for repairs can be paid by the Express Agent (C. O. D.), on our 
returning the articles. Remember, however, always to send the spindle (or 
ball and socket, if it be a Surveyor's Compass) on which the instrument turns, as 
it cannot be adjusted without ; and a socket must be improvised at additional 
cost to the owner, if it be not sent. If, when the instrument is not of our make, 
it is required to be tested for magnetic attraction, or defective graduation, 
the fact must be mentioned in the letter of advice to us. 

If the distance be not too great, it would also be best to send us the tripod 
legs and head, as the legs are frequently loose in their cheeks, and the iron 
shoes at their ends shaky and points worn off. 

When instruments are sent to us to be repaired, we will, if requested, test 
any steel tape or chain that may be forwarded with them without extra charge, 
and give their difference in length as compared with the true United States stand- 
ard (see "straight line measurements"), and the state of the thermometer at the 
time of trial. If, however, any repairing or adjusting of the chains, etc., be re- 
quired, there will be an extra charge. 

We have been frequently asked, since we have increased the power of our 
Telescopes, whether we could not place our new Telescope on instruments 
made by other firms. We have heretofore uniformly refused, as our new Tele- 
scope is a distinguishing feature of our instruments as compared with others. 
We have however reconsidered our determination, and will alter any Telescope 
to our new one ; but in cases of this sort we will engrave on the Telescope tube 
the name of our firm. In altering the Telescope, all that will be necessary in a 
majority of the cases, will be to remove the old object glass and eye piece, in- 
sert new ones, and to change the place of the cross wires. 



OFFICE OF HELLER & BRIGHTLY, ) 
33 North Seventh St., Philadelphia. J 



TRIAL OF INSTRUMENTS BEFORE ACTUAL PURCHASE. 



We judge from numerous letters received by us since the knowledge that 
we have increased the power of the ordinary Telescope, has been made 
public, that a personal examination of the Telescope (and instrument) 
before making a final purchase, would be more satisfactory to parties who 
are but slightly acquainted with us and our reputation. We make to such 
the following proposition : On making known to us the kind of instrument 
they desire, Ave will forward it to their address by express; and we will 
direct the express agent on delivery of the instrument to collect the amount 
of our bill, but instead of fonvarding to us immediately as is usual, he will 
hold the money on deposit for say four days, or until the purchaser shall 
have thoroughly tested the instrument in the field. The purchaser can 
take the instrument and give it an actual trial in the field (four days 
should be ample for this), and if not found as represented, strictly first- 
class in all parts, and perfectly satisfactory in every respect, he may return 
it to the express agent before the expiration of the four days, and receive 
the money paid in full and no sale. The express agent will then return the 
instrument to us at our expense. If, however, the instrument is not 
returned to the express agent within the four days, it will be presumed that 
it is perfectly satisfactory, and the agent will forward the money to us. 

In sales of this sort, however, as in all our other sales, our original Avar- 
ranty holds good — i. e., that any time after purchase if any defect appears 
after reasonable use, we agree either to replace with a perfect instrument or 
to refund the purchase money. 

March 25. 1874. 







KllHBi 



HELLER & BRIGHTLY, 

MATHEMATICAL, OPTICAL, ENGINEERING, AND SURVEYING INSTRU- 
MENT MAKERS, 
33 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia. 



zp:r,ic:e list 

Philadelphia, March, 1874. 



TRANSIT. 
Complete " combined Transit and Levelling' Instrument," for 
Civil Engineers and Surveyors (similar to illustration) — 5 inch magnetic 
needle. " Long compound centres " to plates— all graduations on sil- 
ver plate. The degrees of the ring and horizontal plate numbered in 
two rows, one row in quadrants (0° to 90° each way), and the other row a 
continuous one (for repeating an angle) from 0° to 360°. — Double oppo- 
site verniers to horizontal limb. — All the level bubbles ground. — Long 
sensitive level bubble, vertical arc, clamps and tangent screw movement to 
axis of Telescope. — Tangent screw motions, both to the horizontal 
limb and vernier plate. Clamps on Telescope axis, arranged with sight- 
ing slits and index marks, for right angle sighting (for onsets). Teles- 
cope achromatic and erecting, of extra high power and range, (magnifies 
28 diameters ; and will read time on an ordinary watch dial at 983 feet 
distance). Telescope balanced in its axis, reversing both at eye and 
Object ends, and with one end of its axis adjustable. — Slide for closing 
aperture in cap, when not in use. Shifting tripod head to tripod, for pre- 
cisely centring the instrument over a point, after approximately setting by the 
tripod legs. Extra wide openings in vernier plate for reading the hori- 
zontal limb.— Tripod head, with the levelling screws, etc., detachable 
both from the instrument proper, and from the tripod legs, for packing away 
in the box. — Length of Telescope 10| inches ; Diameter of object glass 1£ 

inches $220.00 

The instrument is securely packed in mahogany box, with leather strap, hooks, 
lock and key. — India-rubber washers to the bottom of the box to prevent 
disarrangement of the adjustments by transportation. — Packed in each box, 
and included in the price, are a magnifier for the easy reading of the graduations, 
plummet, sun-shade for Telescope, adjusting-levers, and two screw- 
drivers. . 
Plain Transit — similar to the above in every respect, excepting that it 
has no level, vertical arc, clamps nor tangent screw motion to the axis of 
Telescope $175.00 

EXTRAS TO PLAIN TRANSIT. 
By attaching the first three following extras (weight about 16 ounces) to a plain 
Transit, it is changed into a " complete, combined Transit and Levelling Instru- 
ment. 

Vertical circle 4J inches diameter (reading to minutes of arc) $20.00 

Or vertical arc, 7 inches radius, and vernier clamp 15.00 

Clamp and tangent movement to axis of Telescope 15.00 

Long level on Telescope, ground bubble and scale 15.00 

" Slit sights " on Telescope, to fold down on the Telescope when not in use. 12.00 

EXTRAS TO EITHER PLAIN OR COMPLETE TRANSIT. 

(Any or all of which may be added at will.) 

Rack and pinion movement to eye piece (for focussing cross-wires) 5.00 

Adjustable Stadia hairs (with accurate and firm adjustment to the slides, 
and so arranged that the Micrometer or Stadia hairs can be adjusted 
without disturbing in the least the adjustments of the ordinary horizontal 
and vertical hair). Unless otherwise ordered, we adjust them so as to 

39 



40 PRICE LIST. 

precisely take in 1 foot of a rod, placed at lOO feet distance from the in- 
strument $10.00 

Extra detachable side Telescope, for vertical sighting in shafts. For 

description of this Telescope, and manner of its use, see page 7 12.00 

(This Telescope is only furnished at this price when ordered with the instru- 
ment.) 

Plated reflector for graduations (see page 7) 4.00 

" " cross wires (see Professor Raymond's paper) 4.00 

Extension leg for lowering or raising the Transit (see report of Com- 
mittee of Civil Engineers of Franklin Institute) 5.00 

Small adjustable Table to attach to tripod for holding lamp, weighing 

24oz., and packing away in box (for description and use see page 7) 15.00 

Extra magnetic needles, centre pins, levels, compass dial glasses, magnifiers, adjust- 
ing levers, plummets, plummet cord, camel's hair brush and buckskin for glasses of 
Telescope, small waterproof bag to place over the Transit in case of rain — furnished 
whenever so desired. 

SMALL MINING AND RECONNOISSANCE TRANSIT. 

A full detailed description of this new instrument, which we have lately designed 
and introduced, will be found in the paper of Professor R. W. Raymond read before 
the Association of Mining Engineers (which see). 

Small Mining and Reconnoissance Transit, with level, vertical arc, 
etc. (similar in every respect excepting size and weight to our complete 

combined Transit and Level — which see) $195.00 

Our attention has been called to imitations of our Mining Transits that have 
been placed on the market since we first introduced our style ; and as from the tenor 
of the communications and inquiries we have received persons may be deceived by 
the close imitation, we give some of the leading points in which they differ. As 
far as the size is concerned, they are close copies, Professor Raymond's paper giving 
all the various dimensions, and rendering imitation in this direction easy. They 
can, however, be detected in the following points. — The metal of which they 
are made is the ordinary hammered yellow brass ; — the windows for reading the ver- 
niers of the horizontal limb are only half the length ; (our window openings being full 
two inches long). Our verniers are opposite, have double readings, and read to 
single minutes of arc; the imitation has single readings, and in some cases only read 
to three minutes (3 / ). Our graduations are upon silver plate ; the imitation on 
the brass and silver washed. Our centres are the "long compound;" the 
imitation has the "flat Surveyor's style." Our plates, etc., are "ribbed" and 
"braced;" the imitation ones are solid, and of course the instrument heavier. 
The Telescope is, however, the part where the greatest difference exists, ours 
being erecting, 1\ inches long, and of a high magnifying power (over 17 diameters), 
the imitation having the ordinary inverting eye piece (Ramsdeu's), and being 
longer. 

EXTRAS TO SMALL MINING TRANSIT. 

(Any or all of which may be dispensed with at will.) 
Extra side Telescope, detachable at will, for vertical sighting (see page 

7 for description of this Telescope and manner of its use) $10.00 

(This Telescope is only furnished at this price when ordered with the instrument.) 
Adjustable Stadia or "Micrometer" hairs (see regular, complete, etc., 

Transit) 7.00 

Extra tripod head with three extension legs (see "Franklin Institute 

Report"), to lower or raise the instrument in contracted workings 1">.00 

Or one extension leg, to suit regular Tripod 5.00 

Plated reflector for graduations (see page 7) 3.00 

" " " cross hairs " " " 3.00 

Small adjustable Table for lamp " " " 15.00 

Lamp for Mining Engineer of new design, can be used either attached to 
the hat, in the hand, or on table, made of heavy sheet copper ; seams lapped, 
and the copper tested as to its freedom from magnetic attraction ; weight about 
5 ounces (for full description see page 7) 3.00 



PRICE LIST. 41 

TUNNEL TRANSIT. 
Tunnel Transit, with Telescope 17 inches in length— long compound cen- 



(See page 8, Franklin Institute Keport, and letter of Mr. Steele for fur- 
ther details) $260.00 



SOLAR TRANSIT. 

Solar Transit (Benj. Smith Lyman's patent) ; this is our regular — " Com- 
plete combined Transit and Level Instrument," with the addition of a 
variation plate, Stadia hairs, and the solar apparatus underneath the main 
plates, all the graduations on silver plate (see Solar Transit, page 14) 300.00 

PLANE TABLE. 

Plane Table of the most approved modern construction, with Alidade — 
detached Compass box, level, scale, etc., — Table 24 inches square — 
alidade with movable edge (this is a most important and time-saving im- 
provement, as double the amount of field work can be done in the same time 
as with the ordinary style of instruments, and with greater accuracy). 
Telescope extra powerful with vertical arc, and with adjustable Stadia hairs — 
Tripod very firm and with shifting head. — The whole instrument braced in 
a manner to best resist side torsion 290.00 

Telemeter Rod (hinged and graduated) to use with Plane Table 25.00 

All the above instruments (as well as those that follow) are reduced to about 

half the weight of instruments made in the ordinary way. — This being effected by 

"ribbing" and " bracing," all the parts. 

The mode is fully explained in "the Report of the Committee of Civil Engineers 

appointed by the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia to examine Heller & Brightly's 

improved Transit," and in the paper read before the "American Philosophical 

Society." 

LEVELLING INSTRUMENT. 

Engineer's Levelling Instrument, with "long centre" (instrument sim- 
ilar to illustration), Telescope, bar and centres arranged in such a manner a3 
to detach above the levelling screws, without the possibility of jarring 
the instrument or its adjustments. — Tripod head and levelling screws de- 
tachable from the tripod legs, for packing away in box. — Telescope 17 inches 
long, erecting, achromatic and extra powerful. — Index lines on Telescope 
and Y's for setting vertical hair truly vertical, packed in mahogany box 
with sunshade, adjusting pins, etc., $140.00 

SMALL MINING AND RECONNOISSANCE LEVEL. 

This Mining and Reconnoissance Level is a companion instrument to the 
Mining and Reconnoissance Transit, and is a fac-simile of our regular Engineer's 
Levelling Instrument (which see) in every respect excepting size and weight — length 
of Telescope lOf inches — aperture of object glass 1 inch — magnifying power 28 di- 
ameters, shows objects erect, and will read face of a levelling rod direct (i. e., without 
the aid of a target) at 700 feet. This Levelling Instrument fits the tripod head 
Of the Mining Transit, and one tripod, if need be, will answer for both. — The 
whole instrument weighs without tripod 2J pounds, and is packed in a mahogany 
box, 12 inches long, 4 in. wide, and 6 inches deep ; a strap is furnished to carry box 
over the shoulder in the manner of army officer's field-glass. 

Price without tripod (where Transit tripod interchanges with Level) $95.00 

Tripod head and legs 10.00 

Plummet lamps with " compensating ring " (for description and man- 
ner of use see Prof. Raymond & Eckley B. Coxe's papers before the Ameri- 
can Association of Mining Engineers), singly 13.00 

Per pair 25.00 

Neat light box, with lid and shoulder strap, to carry a pair of these lamps, is also 
furnished if desired. 



42 PRICE LIST. 

Plumb-bob of brass, with steel point, accurate (see test for plumb-bob).... $2.50 
Clinometer or Slope Level, straight bar 12.00 

HELLER & BRIGHTLY'S STEEL TAPE MEASURE 
(STANDARD). 

Steel Tape (of any length that may be desired, from 100 to 1000 feet), with no 
joint from end to end. Lengths and graduations of precise U. S. standard (guaranteed). 

First 100 feet $6.00 

Every extra 100 feet 5.50 

These Tapes can be graduated by us in any manner that may be desired. 
For Bridge building, or City work, we generally make them 300 feet long. The first 
290 feet graduated and numbered at every 10 feet distance; the next 9 feet at every 
foot, and the last foot into lOths, or even closer if preferred. For Mine or Railroad 
work, they are generally desired either 400 (a 400ft. Tape weighs without handles 
2|- lbs.), or 500 feet in length, and graduated in a similar way to the above. We also 
furnish, if wanted, a " Clamping Handle," that can be attached to any portion of 
its length, in order that any measure shorter than the whole length can be taken with- 
out unwinding the entire length from the reel. (See account of a new measuring ap- 
paratus for straight lines.) 

SURVEYING COMPASSES. 
As we make and test our Compasses in a more accurate manner than is 
usual, we are compelled to charge a higher price than is asked for those made in 
the ordinary manner. (For defects of ordinary Compass, see Surveyor's Compass.) 

20. Surveying Compass, 16 inch plate, 6 inch magnetic needle. Two 

straight (ground) levels, outkeeper for keeping tally in chaining; sights 
graduated for the purpose of taking levels, or angles of elevation or 
depression ; Ball and socket for Jacob Staff mounting; Cover to glass, 
and the whole instrument packed in mahogany box $56.00 

21. Same instrument as No. 20, but with an extra Nonius plate, read- 

ing to single minutes of arc, for adding or subtracting the mag- 
netic variation 66.00 

22. Same instrument as No. 20, but with 15 inch plate and 5i inch 

magnetic needle 52.00 

23. Same instrument as No. 22, but with the extra nonius plate for the 

magnetic variation 62.00 

Light Tripod head and legs to fit any of the above compasses 9.25 

Light Tripod similar to the ones furnished with the Engineer's Transit 
or Level (see cut), combining the ball and socket for approxi- 
mately rapid levelling, and the four vertical levelling screws for 
the precise levelling of the instrument; — Clamp to the centre 18.00 

24. Pocket Surveying Compass, 2k inch needle (sensitive) folding 

sights, cover to dial and packed in morocco box 16.00 

25. Similar to No 24, but with ball and socket for Jacob Staff mountings. 19.00 
The metal of which all these Compasses are made is very dense and hard, and 

not the ordinary hammered yellow brass. 

Extra large size Transits, such as are used by the TJ. S. Coast Survey, with 
horizontal limbs of from one to three feet diameter, and reading by microscopes to 
seconds of arc, and furnished with powerful Telescopes, or for Astronomical 
Transits — price list will be furnished on application. 

LEVELLING RODS. 

Self-reading (but with target) Philadelphia Levelling Rod $18.00 

New York Levelling Eod and Target 16.00 

Ranging poles for Transit, 8 feet long 4.50 

10 " " 5.00 

Barometer for Levelling, Surveying or Reconnoissances, dial 
graduated to read from 8000 to 10,000 feet altitude — these barometers 
are carefully tested by us with a standard Barometer in the following 
manner. We place them under the receiver of an air Pump, and as the 
air is exhausted (equivalent to ascending a mountain) the two dials must 
note the same height from 25.00 to 35.00 



PEICE LIST. 43 



SURVEYOR'S AND ENGINEER'S CHAINS. 

Surveyor's Chain, 2 poles, 50 links, No. 9, wire oval rings $2.00 

" 2 " 40 " 8, " 2.75 

" 2 " 50 " 8, " 2.75 

" 2 " 50 " 7, " 3.75 

" 4 " 100 " 9, wire round rings 3.50 

«« 4 " 100 " 8, wire oval rings 4.50 

" 4 " 100 " 7, " 5.50 

" 4 " 100 " 12, best steel wire, brazed links and 

rings 14.00 

" 2 " 50 " 12, best steel wire, brazed links and 

rings 7.00 

Engineer's Chain, 50 feet, 50 " 7, wire 4.00 

100 " 100 " 7, " 6.00 

" 50 " 50 " 12, best steel wire, brazed links and 

rings 8.00 

" 100 " 100 " 12, best steel wire, brazed links and 



rings 

CHESTERMAN'S STEEL TAPE MEASURES. 



15.00 



These steel Tapes we always test with the true United States standard, and give the 
purchaser a note of the comparison and the state of the thermometer at the time of 
testing. (See straight line measurements.) 

Steel Tape Measures; all steel, to wind up in a box, same as linen measures. 
Steel Tape Measure, 10 feet long, in lOths or 12ths, in German Silver case, 

each $4.00 

Steel Tape Measure, 10 feet long, tape divided on one side to 12ths, and on the 

other to centimeters and millimeters 4.25 

Steel Tape Measure, 25 feet long, in lOths or 12ths, each 6.00 

" " 33 " " " " 7.50 

" " 40 " " " " 8.50 

" " 50 " " " " 10.00 

" ■ 66 " " " " 13.00 

" 75 " " " " 15.00 

" " 100 " " " " 19.00 

Steel Tape Measure, 3 feet long, in German Silver case, with spring and stop, 

tape divided into lOths or 12ths of afoot 2.00 

Steel Tape Measure, 4 feet long, in German Silver case, with spring and stop, 

tape divided into lOths or 12ths of a foot 2.25 

Steel Tape Measure, 5 feet long, in German Silver case, with spring and stop, 

tape divided into lOths or 12ths of a foot 2.50 

Steel Tape Measure, 6 feet long, in German Silver case, with spring and stop, 

tape divided into lOths or 12ths of a foot 2.75 

Steel Tape Measure, 3 feet long, tape divided on one side to 12ths of a foot, and 

the other side to centimeters and millimeters 2.25 

Steel Tape Measure, 4 feet long, tape divided on one side to 12ths of a foot, and 

the other side to centimeters and millimeters 2.50 

Steel Tape Measure, 5 feet long, tape divided on one side to 12ths of a foot, and 

the other side to centimeter sand millimeters 2.75 

Steel Tape Measure, 6 feet long, tape divided on one side to 12ths of a foot, and 

the other side to centimeters and millimeters 3.00 

CHESTERMAN'S METALLIC TAPE MEASURE. 

Metallic Tape Measure, 24 feet long, in lOths or 12ths, each $2.40 

33 " " " " 2.75 

" " 40 " " " " 3.00 

" " 50 " " " " 3.50 

" " 66 " " " " 4.00 

70 " " " " 4.25 



44 PRICE LIST. 

Metallic Tape Measure, 75 feet long, in lOths or 12ths, each $4.50 

80 " " " " 4.75 

100 " a " " 5.50 



SWISS DRAWING INSTRUMENTS. 

Being frequently called upon to furnish the entire field and office outfit for Railroads 

and Civil Engineers, we here insert the prices of some strictly first-class German Silver 

instruments, and of office stationery. The drawing instruments are somewhat higher 

in price than the common sort, but are such as we furnish when the quality is left to 

our judgment. They are examined by us before forwarding, to see that the steel points 
are properly hardened and tempered, that the joints work equally, the drawing pens 
properly rounded and sharpened. We can, however, furnish, at catalogue prices, those 
of any firm that may be desired. 

Plain Dividers, ih inches long, each $1.90 

Plain Dividers, 5 inches long, each 2.25 

Plain Dividers, 6 inches long, each 2.70 

Hair Spring Dividers, 4j inches long, each 2.65 

Hair Spring Dividers, 5 to 6 inches long, each 3.00 

Dividers, 65 inches long, with Pen, Pencil, Needle Points and Lengthening Bar. 8.50 
Dividers, 6? inches long, with fixed Needle Point and Loose Pen, and Pen 

Points and Lengthening Bar 6.75 

Dividers, 6^ inches long, joints in each leg, with Pen, Pencil, Needle Points, 

Dotting Pen and Lengthening Bar 11.00 

Dividers, 4 inches long, with Pen, Pencil and Needle Points 6.00 

Dividers, 4 inches long, with fixed Needle Point, and Pen and Pencil Points, 

changeable 5.25 

Dividers, 4 inches long, with two fixed Needle Points 3.25 

Dividers, 4 inches long, with fixed Needle Point and Pen Point 3.60 

Dividers, 4 inches long, with fixed Needle Point and Pencil Point 3.60 

Dividers, 4 inches long, with Spring and Set Screw, Needle Point, Pencil Point 

and two Pen Points 8.50 

Proportional Dividers, 6V inches long, finely graduated for lines 8.75 

Proportional Dividers, 6| inches long, finely graduated for lines and polygons. 10.00 
Proportional Dividers, 9 inches long, finely graduated for lines and polygons... 12.25 
Proportional Dividers, 9 inches long, with micrometer adjustment, finely gradu- 
ated for lines and polygons 14.75 

Proportional Dividers, 8 inches long, with rack adjustment, graduated for lines. 12.75 

Bisecting Dividers, 7j inches long, each 4.30 

Pocket Dividers, 5 to 6 inches long, with sheath, each 3.00 

Three-Legged Dividers, 5 to 6 inches long, each 5.25 

Steel Spacing Dividers, 5 inches long, with Ivory Handle 3.20 

" " 3j " with Ivory or Metal Handle 1.70 

" " 3| " with Ivory Handle and Needle Points.. 3.00 
Beam Compass, 20 inches long, in 2 bars, with Pen, Pencil and two Straight 

Points 11.50 

Beam Compass, 21 inches long, in 3 bars 13.00 

" 36 " 4 " 19.00 

" 54 " 4 " 22.50 

Furniture for Wood Bar Beam Compasses, in morocco box 8.75 

Furniture for Wood Bar Beam Compasses, not in morocco bo>: 8.30 

Boxwood Bar, 24 inches long, divided 2.50 

Pillar Compasses, or Pocket Set of Instruments, witii Points to change 8.50 

Pillar Compasses, or Pocket Set of Instruments, with Points to change, and 

Handles to Bow Pen and Pencil 10.00 

Pillar Compasses, or Pocket Set of Instruments, with Points to turn 9.00 

Spring Bow Pen, allsteel, Ivory Handle 2.25 

" " with Needle Point, all steel, Ivory Handle 3.00 

" " German Silver 2.65 

" " " with Pencil Point 3.60 

All Steel Spring, Bow Pencil, Ivory Handle 2.25 

" " " " Needle Point 3.00 



PRICE LIST. 45 

Drawing Pen, 4h inches long, with joints $1.60 

5* " " 1-70 

6| " " 1-95 

Eoad, or Double Drawing Pen 4.15 

" " " with joint in each side 3.80 

Dotting Pen, with one wheel 2.65 

" with six wheels 4.00 

Horn Centre, with German Silver edges 50 

German Silver Centre, with handle 30 

" Fastening Tacks, per dozen 80 

Steel Fastening Tacks, per dozen 80 

Irregular Curves of Horn, each 75 

Polling Parallel Rule, ebony 3.75 

Eccentric Eule, 11 inches long 2.65 

Parties wanting cases made up of these Instruments can select the pieces, by the 
above list, that are best adapted to their purpose, and we will have boxes made to suit, 
at an additional cost of from $7 to $15, according to the size of the boxes, which are 
made of rosewood, mahogany or walnut, highly finished. 

PAPER PROTRACTORS. 

Whole Circle Protractor, 13 inches diameter, half degrees, on drawing paper, 

each 30 

Whole Circle Protractor, 13 inches diameter, half degrees, on Bristol boards, 

each 40 

Half Circle Protractor, 5 inches diameter, half degrees, on Bristol boards, 

each 25 

FRENCH TRACING PAPER. 

FINE QUALITY, VERY CLEAR AND STRONG. 

In Sheets. Eoyal, 19x25 inches per quire, $1.00 

" Super-Royal, 21x26 inches " 1.50 

" Double Elephant, 28x40 inches " 2.50 

In Eolls, 11 yards long and 43 inches wide, per yard per roll 1.50 

22 " " " " " 2.50 

Vegetable Royal, 19x25 inches, per quire $2.20, per sheet 15 

" Super Royal, 21x26 " " 3.50, " 40 

" Double Elephant, 28x40 " " _ 10.00, " 65 

in rolls of 22 yards, 54 inches wide, per roll 5.00 

THE NEW LINEN TRACING PAPER. 
Transparent, very strong, and waterproof. 

In Rolls of 20 yards, 36 inches wide, per roll $4.40, per yard 35 

48 " " 5.85, " 45 

CONTINUOUS OR ROLL PROFILE PAPER, IN CONTIN- 
UOUS ROLLS OP ANY LENGTH. 

Plate A. — Rulings 22 inches wide, Horizontal Divisions, four to the inch ; Ver- 
tical Divisions, twenty to the inch, and having every tenth horizontal division 
line and every fiftieth vertical division line heavier than the others. Price, 
per yard 30 

Plate B. — Rulings 22 inches wide, Horizontal Divisions, four to the inch ; Ver- 
tical Divisions, thirty to the inch, and having every fourth horizontal division 
line and every twenty-fifth vertical division line heavier than the others. 
Price, per yard .' 30 

Plate B. — Rulings 9 inches wide, Horizontal Divisions, four to the inch ; Ver- 
tical Divisions, thirty to the inch, and having every fourth horizontal division 
line and every twenty-fifth vertical division line heavier than the others. 
Price, per yard 20 



46 PRICE LIST. 

MUSLIN BACKED ROLL PROFILE PAPER. 

Muslin Backed Roll Profile Paper, of either Plate A or B, 22 inches wide, in 

rolls of 20 yards, peryard. 75 

Muslin Backed Boll Profile Paper, Plate B, 9 inches wide, in rolls of 20 yards, 

per yard 50 

Plate B corresponds to that m sheets known as Brown's Profile Paper. 

CROSS SECTION PAPERS. 

Topographical Paper, 14x17 inches, ruled 400 feet to the inch, per sheet 12 

cents per quire $1.75 

Trautwine's Cross Section and Diagram, 10 feet to inch, for embankments of 
14 and 24 feet, roadway, and for excavations of 18 and 28 feet, rulings 19^x12 

inches, per sheet, 25 cents per quire, 5.00 

Cross Section Papers, rulings 22xl6inches, 8 feet to inch, per sheet 25c, " 5.00 

10 " " 25c, " 5.00 
" " " " 10 " every fifth line 

heavy, per sheet 25c, per quire 5.00 

Cross Section Papers, rulings 22x16 inches, 16 feet to inch, per sheet, 25c, " 5.00 

All the Profile and Cross Section Papers can be furnished, printed with red or green lines. 

FIELD BOOKS. 

Level Book, 7x4 inches, made of superior drawing paper, per dozen $6.00 

" 6jx4 " extra smooth paper " 4.50 

Profile Level Books, 7x4 inches, made of superior drawing paper. 7.50 

Transit Books, 7x4 inches, made of superior drawing paper, " 6.00 

" 6£x4 " extra smooth paper " 4.50 

Record, 7|x5 inches, made of superior writing paper " 9.00 

Cross Section Books, 8 inches long by 7 wide, for Topography. " 12.00 

BOUND PROFILE BOOKS. 

These books are for field or office purposes, being printed on both sides, of a tough 
thick paper, and bound in flexible covers convenient for the pocket. Each page con- 
tains a profile of three thousand feet in length, so that each folio will contain an aver- 
age section of a road as usually laid out for construction. Railroad and other engi- 
neers will find them very useful. Size of book 9J by 5| inches. The rulings cor- 
respond to the large profile plates A and B. 

Plate A, 25 leaves imitation Turkey morocco, with elastic band $3.50 

" 50 " " " 5.00 

" 100 " " " 8.00 

" 50 " Turkey morocco, turned edges, with elastic band 6.00 

" 100 " " " " 9.00 

Plate B, 25 " imitation Turkey morocco, with elastic band 3.50 

" 50 " " " " 5.00 

" 100 " " " " 8.00 

" 50 " Turkey morocco, turned edges, with elastic band 6.00 

" 100 " " " " 9.00 

PAPER PROTRACTORS. 

Whole Circle Protractor, 13 inches diameter, half degrees, on drawing paper, 

each 30 

Whole Circle Protractor, 13 inches diameter, half degrees, on Bristol boards, 

each 40 

Half Circle Protractor, 5 inches diameter, half degrees, on Bristol boards, 

each 25 



PRICE LIST. 47 

DRAWING STATIONERY. 
WHATMAN'S HOT AND COLD-PRESSED DRAWING PAPERS, SELECTED. 

Best. 2d qual. 

Demy, 20x15 inches per quire, $1.00 $0.85 

Medium, 22x17 " " 1.50 1.25 

Royal, 24x19 " " 2.00 l.bO 

Super-royal, 27x19 " " 2.50 2.00 

Imperial, 30x21 " " 3.50 3 00 

Atlas, 33x26 " " 5.25 4.50 

Double Elephant, 40x26 " " 6.00 5.75 

Antiquarian, 52x31 " " 30.00 18.00 

Whatman's papers, hot pressed, have smooth surfaces ; cold pressed, have fine grain 
surfaces. Best and second quality of Whatman's papers are made of the same mate- 
rials ; the best is free from spots and imperfections. 



c 

man make, 36 i 
36 
" 42 
« 42 
« 42 
« 54 


ONTINUOUS DRAWING PAPER. EXTRA W 
In rolls op 30 to 50 pounds. 

nches wide, per pound $0.40, 
" thin superior, " 55, 
thick, " 40, 
" " superior, " 55, 
" thin, " 40, 
" thick, " 55, 
" thin, 55, 
" thick, 55, 
" medium, " 55, 
" thin, " 55, 

ACZED CONTINUOUS DRAWING PAPER. 3 


HITE. 

per yard 


25 
35 
30 


u 


45 


11 


25 


<{ 


50 


54 
i egg shell, 59 
" " 59 


11 


35 

75 


It 


55 


" " 59 


u 


45 


MUSLIN B 


2XTRA WHITE. 





In rolls of 10 yakds. 

Best German Paper, 42 inches wide, per roll $9. 00, per vard $1 .00 

" 54 " " 14.00, " 1.50 

" " 59 " " 18.00, " 2.00 

CONTINUOUS DRAWING PAPER, BUFF TINT, FOR WORKING DRAWINGS. 
Best English make, in rolls of 50 to 80 pounds. 

40 inches wide, medium thickness, per pound $0.50, per yard 25 

54 " " " 50, " 35 

Best American make, in rolls of 70 to 100 pounds. 

30 inches wide, thick, per pound $0.16, per yard 10 

42 " " " 16, " 16 

48 " " " 16, " 18 

54 " " " 16, " 20 

Full rolls only of continuous paper sold by the pound at above rates. 

TRACING OR VELLUM CLOTH. 
In Eolls of 24 yards, both sides glazed, or face glazed and back dull, suitable for pen- 
cil marks. 

Imperial, 18 inches wide, per roll $6.50, per yard 35 

" 30 " " 9.50, " 50 

36 " " 11.00, " 60 

" 42 " " 15.00, " 75 

Sagar's Patent, 18 " " 7.00, " 35 

" 30 " " 9.50, " 50 

" 36 " " 11.00, " 60 

42 " " 15.00, " 75 



48 BOOKS ON CIVIL ENGINEERING, SURVEYING, ETC. 

LESLEY'S MICROMETER 

Lesley's micrometer, (see page 35,) with units of either one half-inch, one centi- 
meter, or one half-tenth of a foot, as may be preferred, with one removable 
ring divided into 100 parts. Packed in neat morocco box, with compartment 

for changeable rings $25.00 

Changeable rings, divided into 100, 50, 48, 96 or 192 equal parts, each 1.50 

500 " " " " 2.00 

165 " " " " 2.25 

Blank rings will be furnished at $1 each, and will also graduate the ring into 
any number of parts that may be called for. 

The direct use to which each of (he divided rings can be put to is as follows: The 
100, 50 and 500 can be used on all three units. The 48, 96 and 192 are intended for 
laying out builders' work with the half-inch unit, where feet, inches and eighths of an 
inch are used. They could of course be used with the centimetre if it was desirable 
to divide the metre into 4800, 9600 or 19200 parts or into such fractions of the latter 
as 400, 800, 1200, 600, etc. 

In like manner the first three can be used to divide the foot in 12, 24, 120, 10, 20, 100, 
etc., or the inch into 1, 2, 10, 20, etc., or the metre into 100, 1000, 500, 5000, etc. The 
plain ring is intended to be used for extraordinary scales, and is used as follows: take 
a large printed paper protractor and gum a small piece of white paper on it; then lay 
off around the large protractor the number of divisions the half inch (or half tenth or 
centimetre) is to be divided into. This can easily be done by calculating the number 
of degrees and fractions of a degree to a division. By drawing fine lead pencil lines 
across the protractor from one side to the other, the paper in the centre will be divided 
into the desired number of parts. Cut out from this a ring of paper the size of the 
brass ring and gum it on the latter, which will then be the desired scale, which can be 
placed on the micrometer. The ring cut out from the paper must, of course, be con- 
centric with the protractor. 



BOOKS ON CIYIL ENGINEERING, SURVEYING, etc. 

Should any other works on kindred topics be desired we will furnish them at pub- 
lishers' prices. 

LESLEY. Manual of Coal and its Topography, with plates, new edition. By 
J. P. Lesley, in press. Philadelphia, 1874. 

TRAUTWINE. The Field Practice of Laying out Circular Curves for Kail- 
roads. By J. C. Trautwine, C.E. Ninth edition, revised and enlarged. 12mo, 
morocco, tucks. Philadelphia, 1874 $2 00 

A new Method of Calculating the Cubic Contents of Excavations and 

Embankments by the Aid of Diagrams. By J. C. Trautwine. Fifth edition, 
revised and enlarged. Philadelphia, 1874 2 00 

The Civil Engineer's Pocket-Book. Bv J. C. Trautwine. Eighth thou- 
sand, tucks. Philadelphia, 1874 ". 5 00 

MORRIS. Easy rules for the measurement of Earthworks bv means of the 

Prismoidal Formula. By Ellwood Morris. Philadelphia, 1872 2 00 

HAUPT. Theory of Bridge Construction ; with practical illustrations. Bv H. 

Haupt. 8vo 3 50 

MAHAN. An Elementary Course of Civil Engineering. Bv D. H. Mahan. 
8vo, cloth. New York '. 4 00 

VOSE. Hand Book of Railroad Construction. Bv George L. Vose, new edi- 
tion. Boston, 1873 20 00 

GILLESPIE. Manual of the Principles and Practice of the Road-Making. 

By W. M. Gillespie. 1 vol. 12mo, cloth. Tenth edition, enlarged 2 50 




REMARKS 




ENGINEERS' SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS. 



HELLER & BRIGHTLY. 



OO^TElsTTS. 



POINTS OF A GOOD TRANSIT. 

Defective surveys.— City of Burling- 
ton, N. J., in point.— Law compelling 
instruments to be tested.— Magnetic 
needle, its degree of sensitiveness.— 
Compound centres, how to test. — 
Should always liave double verniers, 
and why.— Dead centre turning lathe. 
—"Back lash" to tangent screw.— 
Telescope balanced in axis 3 

COMMON DEFECTS OF ORDINARY 
TRANSITS. 

Defective graduation. —Errors of 
graduation.— Personal equation.— Per- 
sonal aberration.— Error between Bes- 
sel and Strove.— Metal should not be 
yellow brass, and why.— Defects of or- 
dinary plummets 3 

MINING TRANSITS. 

Side telescope to axis. — Improved 
table for lamp.— New lamp for hat.— 
Reflector for graduations 7 

TUNNEL TRANSITS. 

How made.— Error of alignment 7 

LEVELLING INSTRUMENT. 

Points of a good level.— Marks for 
vertical line. — New mode of binding 
telescope.— Defective form of level.— 
Diversity of opinion as to close lev- 
elling.— Test levels.— Rod errors, how 
corrected.— Distance errors, how cor- 
rected 8 

TELESCOPES. 

How to compare.— Tests for power, 
definition and light.— Best time for 
sighting.— How to keep telescope good. 10 

SURVEYOR'S COMPASS. 

Remarks on magnetism.— How to 
keep needle sensitive.— Causes of at- 
traction. New causes of attraction.— 
Nickel watch movements.— Wire hat- 
bands.— Impure brass.— Electricity in 
compass glass 11 



SOLAR COMPASS. 

How to test.— Methods of applying 
telescope to 14 

NEW STRAIGHT LINE MEASURE. 

Defects of ordinary tapes and chains. 15 

STADIA MEASUREMENTS. 

Different methods.— Why good re- 
-Starting-point 



PAPER READ BEFORE THE AMERI- 
CAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY ON 

TRANSITS 19 

REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF CIVIL 
ENGINEERS OF THE FRANKLIN 
INSTITUTE TO EXAMINE A NEW 
TRANSIT 22 

ACCOUNT OF A NEW TELESCOPE.... 25 

TEST OF NEW TELESCOPE AS COM- 
PARED WITH AN ORDINARY ONE. 26 

STROLL THROUGH AN " ENGINEER'S 
INSTRUMENT" MANUFACTORY.... 28 

MODERN PRACTICE OF FIELD WORK 
IN RAILROAD SURVEYS 30 

PAPER READ BY PROF. R. W. RAY- 
MOND BEFORE THE AMERICAN 
ASSOCIATION OF MINING ENGI- 
NEERS ON A NEW MINING TRAN- 
SIT 32 

PAPER BY ECKLEY B. COXE, ESQ., 
BEFORE THE SAME, ON THE USE 
OF THE PLUMMET LAMP IN MINE 
SURVEYING 33 




PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED BY HELLER & BRIGHTLY. 

1874. 




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